CfA: Workshop on Difficult Actions, VU Amsterdam

[Annalisa Costella]

Dear all,

We're pleased to invite submissions for the upcoming workshop "Difficult Actions: Definition, Value, and Rationality", to be held on October 29-30, 2026 at VU Amsterdam.

We're proud to announce a distinguished lineup of speakers: 

Keynotes: Gabriele Oettingen (NYU) & Sarah Paul (NYU Abu Dhabi) 

Invited Speakers: Alfred Archer (Tilburg University); Berislav Marušić (University of Edinburgh); Olivier Massin (University of Neuchâtel); Leonie Smith (Lancaster University) 

The workshop aims to explore the growing research on "difficult actions" – actions sometimes described as "against the odds".  Such actions encompass a wide range of human endeavours, from physically demanding feats to emotionally taxing decisions, morally challenging dilemmas, and epistemically uncertain undertakings. This workshop will delve into how these actions are conceived, what makes them particularly challenging, and the ethical and epistemic considerations involved in their pursuit. 

The workshop will address three core themes: 

1) ‎Defining Difficult Actions: We will seek to establish a robust definition of "difficult actions," examining various philosophical accounts and exploring the commonalities and distinctions between different forms of difficulty in action. 

2) Exploring the Value of Difficult Actions: We will delve into what - if anything - makes difficult actions valuable and under what conditions.

3) Exploring the Rationality of Difficult Actions: We will ask how it can be rational to pursue a difficult action. 

 Our goal is to uncover novel insights into the interplay between what we value, what we know, and how we act when faced with significant obstacles. Beyond its academic relevance, this workshop holds significant societal importance. Understanding difficult actions can illuminate real-world challenges such as overcoming poverty, confronting injustice, or tackling environmental crises. We aim to provide insights pertinent to policymaking, social initiatives, and individual decision-making in challenging circumstances. 

Call for Abstracts: 

We invite submissions by scholars from various philosophical sub-disciplines as well as from psychology and economics (or related fields) to contribute to a deeper understanding of the definition, value, and rationality of such actions. 

Abstracts should be between 800–1,000 words and address any aspect of difficult actions, broadly construed. We particularly welcome contributions from members of underrepresented demographics in philosophy and early career scholars. 

Please submit your abstract by June 07, 2026 via this form: https://forms.gle/RyKGAevmQUzkkfeh7

We aim to communicate our decisions by the end of June 2026. 

For further information, please contact a.cos...@vu.nl.

You can find the event website here: https://philevents.org/event/show/149417.

All the best,

Lisa Bastian and Annalisa Costella