Announcement and Call for Abstracts
\nInternational Conference on the Theme of Trust and Hope in Times of Crises
\nJune 22&\;23\, 2026
\n\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;The American University of Armenian (AUA)\, Yerevan
\n\;
\nOrganised by AUA Center for Ethics in Public Affairs (ETICA)
\nIn association with
\nThe International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP)
\nThe Armenian Philosophical Academy
\nYerevan State University (YSU)
\nThe Horizon Europe project \;ETICA \; \;(Center for Ethics in Public Affairs) at the American University of Armenia (AUA)\, directed by the ERA Chair \;Professor Maria Baghramian\, will hold its second international conference\, June 22 and 23. 2026 in Yerevan\, Armenia .The theme of the conference is \; \;&ldquo\;Trust and Hope in Times of Crises&rdquo\;\, the research theme of the \; \;ETICA project. The conference is co-sponsored by \;The International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP)\, \;The Armenian Philosophical Academy \;(APHA)\, and the \;Yerevan State University (YSU).
\nThe conference explores philosophical questions on the nature and interconnections between trust and hope with an emphasis on the impact of economic\, social\, and political crises on these core elements of our public and personal lives. \;
\nAbstracts of 300- 500 words\, for conference presentations of 20 minutes (+10 minutes Q&\;A)\, in English or Armenian\, are invited on questions relevant to the general theme of the conference\, including but not limited to: \;
\nWhat are the connections between trust and hope? \;
\nDoes trust without hope make sense\, or is hope always implicit in trust?
\n\;Is hope a precondition for trust in times of crisis?
\nIs there a moral or social obligation to remain hopeful in times of crisis?
\nIs it rational to trust or to remain hopeful in times of crisis? \; \;
\nWhat are the impacts of living in times of crisis on the conditions \; \;and levels of trust and hope? Do public and interpersonal trust vary in this respect? \;
\nIs betrayal of trust in a time of crisis morally worse than in ordinary times or is it more excusable ?
\nAre hope and trust \; \;epistemic or character virtues to be cultivated or are they in-built \; \;features of the \; \;human make up? \;
\nWhat distinguishes hope from wishful thinking\, and does this distinction become blurred in times of crisis? \;
\nWhat do times of crises reveal about the \; \;fragility or the resilience of trust? and relatedly\, can times of \; \;crises ever create new forms of solidarity leading to greater trust and hopefulness \;
\nWhat are the connections\, if any\, between\, trust and faith\, particularly in times of crisis?
\nPresentations \; \;discussing the work of major philosophers on the topic of conference are also welcome. \;
\nThe official languages of the conference are English and Armenian. Abstracts and presentations in either language are welcome. \; \;We aim to publish a selection of the conference proceedings \;in ETICA: A Yearbook of Ethics and Public Affairs. \;Competitive conference bursaries\, covering \; \;accommodations and subsistence for the duration of the conference\, \; \;will be awarded to a maximum of eight early career international researchers who do not have access to other research funding. \;
\nAnonymised abstracts \; \;in Word format should be sent as email attachments to \;etica@aua.am\, with the heading Trust and Hope. \;This is an in-person conference and online presentations cannot be facilitated. \; \;
\nThe \;deadline for the abstracts is January 15 2026. \; \;
\nAll queries to \;etica@aua.am
\n ORGANIZER;CN=Maria Baghramian: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260502T071810Z DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Yerevan:20260629T090000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Yerevan:20260710T170000 SUMMARY:Yerevan Academy for Linguistics and Philosophy UID:20260507T002703Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-6b96c54f56-bljdq TZID:Asia/Yerevan LOCATION:40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave\, Yerevan\, Armenia\, 0019 DESCRIPTION:CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
\nYerevan Academy of Linguistics and Philosophy (YALP) \;
\n2026\, June 29-July 10\, 2026
\nI. General Information
\nThe Yerevan Academy for Linguistics and Philosophy (YALP) is an annual intensive summer program in linguistics and philosophy. YALP started out in 2017 and brings each year over 50 undergraduate and graduate students together. It hosts students from Armenia and other countries in the region (broadly construed). \; \;
\nThe purpose of the academy is to provide an opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and skills\, possibly with a view toward applying to doctoral programs in philosophy or linguistics (including programs in the USA and Europe).
\nParticipation in the Yerevan Academy for Linguistics and Philosophy is free of charge. \;
\nYALP is generously hosted by the American University of Armenia (AUA) and funded by the European Union. \;
\nYALP has received generous funding from the Center for Ethics in Public Affairs (ETICA)\, enabling us to host a launch reception\, organize a cultural tour for all participants and to provide accommodation for up to eight international participants at the Mashikian Student Residence Hall in Dzoragyugh throughout YALP 2026.
\nThis support is available\, on the basis of financial need\, to participants from Georgia\, Iran\, Turkey\, the Baltic and the Central Asian countries.
\nII. People
\nOrganizers
\nDaniel Altshuler (University of Oxford\, Linguistics) \;
\nArshak Balayan (The American University of Armenia\, Philosophy)
\nSusanna Melkonian-Altshuler (Birkbeck\, University of London\, Philosophy)
\nConsultants
\nMaria Baghramian (Philosophy\, University College Dublin)
\nPaul Boghossian (Philosophy\, New York University)
\nMaria Polinsky (Linguistics\, University of Maryland) \;
\nConfirmed Teaching Faculty
\n1. Farbod Akhlaghi (University of Dublin\, Philosophy)
\n2. Arshak Balayan (American University of Armenia\, Philosophy)
\n3. Lev Blumenfeld (Carleton University\, Linguistics)
\n4. Ludovica Conti (University of Vienna\, Philosophy)
\n5. Setayesh Dashti (University of Gö\;ttingen\, Linguistics)
\n6. Filippo Ferrari (University of Bologna\, Philosophy)
\n7. Chelsea Harry (Southern Connecticut State University\, Philosophy) \;
\n8. Paloma Jeretič (University of Pennsylvania\, Linguistics)
\n9. Armen Marsoobian (Southern Connecticut State University\, \;
\n\; \; Philosophy) \;
\n10. Aleksandre Maskharashvili (University of Illinois\, Linguistics)
\n11. Dean McHugh (University of Edinburgh/NYU\, Linguistics/Philosophy)
\n12. Anthony Nguyen (Florida State University\, Philosophy)
\n13. Maria Polinsky (University of Maryland\, Linguistics)
\n14. Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra (University of Oxford\, Philosophy)
\n15. Miriam Ronzini (University of Manchester\, Philosophy)
\n16. Luisa Seguin (CNRS\, Linguistics)
\n17. Tatevik Yolyan (Rutgers\, Linguistics)
\nIII. Important Dates
\nThe application deadline is April 20\, 2026. Participants will be notified by May 1. To apply\, please fill out the application form (https://sites.google.com/view/yalp2017/yalp-2026/application) and send it to 2026yalp@gmail.com by April 20\, 2026. \;
\nStudents are expected to demonstrate commitment and to attend all classes\, which will be held on weekdays from June 29 through July\, 2026. \;
\nThis summer program will have parallel sessions of linguistics and philosophy. Students are expected to participate in 3-4 classes per day. \;
\nAdditional details about the courses will be published soon on the YALP webpage. We also have a facebook group that interested participants can join. \;
\nIV. Venue
\nAll classes will be held in Paramaz Avedisian Building (PAB) of the American University of Armenia (AUA). \;
ORGANIZER;CN=Daniel Altshuler;CN=Arshak Balayan;CN=Susanna Melkonian-Altshuler: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR