Individualism has become one of the hallmarks of modern societies, arising from a complex blend of spiritual, psychological, social, and cultural factors. As an ideology that emphasizes personal gain, individualism frequently stands in contrast to collective values and shared identity, intensifying the crisis of meaning that pervades contemporary life.

• Speakers: Armen Sargsyan, Hakob Madoyan
• Host: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The challenges humanity faces in the era of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. Yuval Harari’s work Homo Deus and the messages from the 2024 Davos Forum. The shaping of expectations to change or entirely replace humans. Questioning the uniqueness and necessity of human existence.

What lies ahead for us? The speed of technological development, the lack of meaning, and the low level of public dialogue. Humanity as a passive observer of its own future.

Science, marketing, and reality. The main differences between human and artificial intelligence. How substantiated is the creation of artificial general intelligence (AGI)?

The identification of the human being with a machine endowed with biochemical properties performing specific functions. Predictions about synthesizing a new human or creating machines to replace humans. The engineering of biological, cyborg, and non-organic “beings.” Ambitions to eliminate human "deficiencies"—death, suffering, and limitation. Rendering the human existence meaningless, and predictions of the end of human history.

• Spearkers: Aram Pakhchanyan, Kharen Musaelian
• Host: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The role of symbolism in our lives. Traits of symbolic knowledge. The influence of ideas, narratives, moral messages summarized in symbols of collective identity on human consciousness. National symbols as conceptual representations of values, mission, history and vision of the future that unite people.

Symbols as a responsibility for the continuity of identity, protection and empowerment. Distortions and manipulations of symbols and their contempt and harassment in the context of struggles against identity.

How to treat our symbols. The need for the knowledge of symbols and the realization of the values ​​derived from it. Symbols of Armenian identity and their hierarchy. The imperative to systemize the narratives about symbols and to embed them in education.

• Speakers: Hayk Demoyan, Mher Navoyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The nation as a collective consciousness, responsibility, and loyalty. National sacred things, symbols, and values.  The role of religion in national life. The commandment of fraternity as the basis of national life. Our vision and mission.

Is the nation as a value absolute and final or variable and intermediate and dependent on time, place, and context? Are nations ancient with connections and culture from the depths of history, or are they new creations?

What is, and what is not the state? Our unreasonable expectations from the state. The price and responsibility of having a sovereign state. The dangers of copying a state model. The state as a moral system. A national state based on biblical commandments or a system of implementing a contract between individuals?

• Speakers: Artur Atanesyan, Vasken Yakoubian
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The role of Christianity in the life of Armenians.
What is, and what is not Christianity?
Is Christianity a historical-cultural heritage or a power for constant renewal?
The status and responsibility of the first Christian nation.
Lack of public discussion and of reflection on spiritual issues.
Why don't we want to delve into the spiritual?

• Speakers: Hakob Hakobyan, Tovmas Arakelyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

What do we mean by saying “value” and how do we treat values?
How to distinguish real values from fake ones?
If education is the mission of shaping a human, then what is our ideal of a human being? Are our education system and teachers ready for this mission? Does education face a public demand for the formation of values?
How to instill and nurture values? What examples of value-based education can be found today in the world and in us?

• Speakers: Serob Khachatryan, Manuk Hergnyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The differences and commonalities of those who reject God and religion, those who avoid accepting or rejecting, those who question it. Is it possible to live without God? Problems of completeness, consistency, and self-sufficiency of atheistic theories. Scientism or science?
The psychology of rejection. Are we protected against manipulation of consciousness and have the ability to check the credibility of our own opinion? Critical thinking and introspection. The need to find and regain our composure.
Is science the only way to know reality, and do all truths come only from science? Can science prove or disprove the existence of God? Is faith rational or irrational? Is there a conflict between faith and science?

• Speakers: Aram Pakhchanyan, Vardan Aslanyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

National dignity as the basis and strength of identity. How to stand up and rally. State as a moral responsibility. What do we expect from the state if we have exempted ourselves from the responsibility of an owner? Our unresolved problems and unreasonable expectations. Why do we run away from reality and from facing the truth?

• Speakers: Arthur Mkrtchyan, Vahram Ter-Matevosyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

The role and service of the Church in the life of Armenians. What do we expect from the Church, and what does the Church expect from us?  Religion as a spiritual system and moral basis of culture. Where do the moral commandments come from? How to avoid egoistic perceptions of the spiritual?

• Speakers: Larisa Alaverdyan, Ara Zohrabyan
• Moderator: Fr. Mesrop Aramian

Life as a struggle. How, how much and why to fight? Struggle in the context of the human value hierarchy. Homeland and sacred things. How to take control of your identity and values. Knowledge, responsibility, and defense system. Victory and defeat. How to win and how to lose. How to secure victory and overcome defeat. A sense of reality and long-term thinking. The enemy and the friend. Who to fight against and with whom to travel? Respect for the enemy, gratitude for the friend, and a sense of one's own dignity. Methods and ways of struggle. The Feast of the Holy Translators as an example of long-term thinking and of coordinated struggle.

1. What is history for Armenians: memory of the past, interpretation, creative work, or source of inspiration?
2. The main narratives and ideas of historical knowledge. What is the metanarrative or grand narrative of Armenian identity?
3. History of virtue. What values does history convey to us, and what moral responsibility do we bear towards it?
4. Alive and dead history. History as a continuous drama. What is our role in the historical drama?
5. History as a reality. Are we living in reality, or are we running away from reality?
6. Legacy of resolved and unresolved issues. What historical burden do we leave to future generations?
7. Formation of historical thinking. How to present and teach history.

Culture as a living environment or system of thinking, work, relations, goodness, and ideals.

Cognitive and moral axioms of culture, and paradigms derived from them.

Self-realization, creation, and order (culture) versus self-destruction, consumption, and chaos (anti-culture).

The role of culture against the crisis of meaning and purpose. The society of the lonely Culture as a living environment or system of thinking, work, relations, goodness, and ideals.
    Cognitive and moral axioms of culture, and paradigms derived from them.
    Self-realization, creation, and order (culture) versus self-destruction, consumption, and chaos (anti-culture).
    The role of culture against the crisis of meaning and purpose. The society of the lonely and the disconnected individuals. Zombie as symbols of cultural apocalypse.
    Cultural integrity and national identity. Danger of copying and artificial solutions. The need to synthesize your own and the will to take up your cross.
    Cultural prohibitive commandments or restrictive rules. Limiting of the self and desires for higher collective goals. Positive asceticism. Spirit of sacrifice and living culture. Culture in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
    How the emerging culture solves the problem of the accessibility of the truth and moral ideals. Deadlock of linear algorithms. Does the human brain work as a quantum computer. And the disconnected individuals. Zombie as symbols of cultural apocalypse.

Cultural integrity and national identity. Danger of copying and artificial solutions. The need to synthesize your own and the will to take up your cross.

Cultural prohibitive commandments or restrictive rules. Limiting of the self and desires for higher collective goals. Positive asceticism. Spirit of sacrifice and living culture. Culture in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

How the emerging culture solves the problem of the accessibility of the truth and moral ideals. Deadlock of linear algorithms. Does the human brain work as a quantum computer.

• The necessity and role of freedom in human life. For what purpose, why and from what do we want to be free?
• The relationship between freedom and identity. Free will, image, and likeness of God. Determinism and fatalism.
• The direction and responsibility of freedom. Goodness, morality, and truth.

«And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free» (John 8:32).
«Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom» (B. Franklin).

• Inner or spiritual freedom. The ideal of a liberated human.
• False freedom and delusions.
• Freedom as a courage to live, think and create. Freedom as a bridge to the unknown and hidden. Freedom as a key to innovation and creativity.
• Education and freedom.

What happens when culture and technology combine. What is art and what place does it have in people’s lives. Cultural future of humanity. Ethical problems of AI and what consequences it may have.

The main features of collective identity (common feelings, interests, beliefs). National soul, will, and morality. The most important events and sources of the Armenian identity. What values ​​derive from them, and how vital are they for us today? The will and courage to transform. Responsibility for the future.

The need for leadership and its role in human life.
The types of leadership and their transformation over time.
What criteria should leaders meet, and how should they be prepared?
Leader-follower relationship and responsibilities.
Political leadership and national psychology.      
Selection of the public leadership model in terms of national identity.
The role of elites in the formation of leadership culture.
The ways to overcome a crisis of leadership.

What is the good, and what is its place in our value hierarchy? The good as a spiritual, philosophical, cultural, and cognitive ideal. Classifications of the good: spiritual and material, common and individual, complete and partial, eternal and temporary. Virtue as an actualization of the good․ The struggle between good and evil. The nature of evil. Conscience and choice.

What do individuals and societies value, and why do certain realities need to be valued? Values as a basis of knowledge. Correlation of values with identity, mission, and vision. The main classifications of values․ Are there fundamental values that are shared by all civilizations? The value base of education?

The role of truth in the process of knowledge and self-knowledge. What does the word truth mean in different languages ​​and civilizations? How does the truth centrism affect the formation of cultures? The truth in Christianity. What is the price of truth, and how much are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of truth?

The role and significance of knowledge in human life. How and what do we know? Self-knowledge in the process of general knowledge. The difficulties and challenges of the path to self-knowledge. Knowledge within the context of education. What and how do we teach to know? The issue of self-knowledge in education. Machine learning and artificial intelligence.