Vancouver Summer Philosophy Conference (2017)

The VSPC is an annual, workshop-style conference with several days of formal philosophy sessions, informal discussions, and recreation in and around beautiful Vancouver, BC. It is a general philosophy conference with no particular topic or theme.

The VSPC 2017 will feature nine papers, all "pre-read"s. (Papers will not be presented at the conference; participants are expected to read them in advance.) Each session will consist of short presentations by two commentators, a brief response by the author(s), then extended discussion with top-quality chairing. 

The VSPC is a descendant of the Bellingham Summer Philosophy Conference, which ran for many years prior to 2016. In addition to its philosophical content, VSPCs feature enjoyable meals and late-night revelry, and athletic, cultural, and other recreational activities. Vancouver is an amazing city. Participants are encouraged to bring families and friends, to arrive early and stay late, and to take advantage of everything Vancouver has to offer, including breathtaking scenery, world-class restaurants, nightlife, culture, and great coffee shops.

Conference attendance is limited to those on the program, the organizers and referees, and members of the UBC philosophy department. This is due to funding and logistical constraints together with the fact that the VSPC is a workshop-style conference that involves in-depth discussions of works-in-progress.