Biography
Alexandros Batalias is a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with Trinity College, focusing on Theological Anthropology and Artificial Intelligence. His PhD research focuses on the ontological distinction and relations between humans beings and AI robots/machines, drawing on the theological and philosophical works of Maximus the Confessor.
He holds a BA in Theology from the University of Athens, where he graduated top of his class, achieving a grade of 93%. Following this, he pursued postgraduate studies at KU Leuven in Belgium, where he completed two Master’s degrees: an MA and an MRes.
His first Master’s thesis explored the intricate interplay between emergence theory—particularly in chemistry and biology—panentheism, and theology, for which he was awarded First-Class Honours. His second Master’s thesis, titled "Gregory of Nyssa’s Theological Anthropology and Transhumanism: Bodies, Machines, and Minds," examined the mind-body problem in the context of whole-brain emulation scenarios, also receiving First-Class Honours.
His other research interests include the hard problem of consciousness, non-human agency, anthropology of technology, philosophy of technology, digital theology, the relationship between science and religion, and the anthropology of transhumanism.
His views have been featured in international media outlets, including the Daily Mail. Also, He has been offered several Prizes, Awards, and Scholarships for his exceptional academic performance.
Research
• Artificial Intelligence, Tranhumanism, and Theological Anthropology
• Neurotheology, Mind-Body Problem, and Cognitive Science
• Quantum Physics, Cosmology, and Theology
• Emergence, Alternative Concepts of God, and Orthodox Theology
• Natural Theology
• Modern Philosophy and Doctrinal Theology
Publications
Journal Articles
• “Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη και Δημοκρατία: Χαρτογραφώντας μια αμφίρροπη και αμφίδρομη σχέση” [In English: “Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Mapping an Ambivalent and Reciprocal Relationship”], Σύναξη [Synaxis Journal], vol. 172 (2024): 75–79
• “Gregor von Nyssa und Künstliche Intelligenz” [In English: “Gregory of Nyssa and Artificial Intelligence”], Religion & Gesellschaft in Ost und West, vol. 52 (2024): 20–22.
• “Μεταφόρτωση του Νου, Ψηφιακή Αθανασία και Ανθρώπινη Ταυτότητα” [In English: “Mind Uploading, Digital Immortality, and Human Identity”], Το Κοινόν: των Ωραίων Τεχνών [The Common: the Fine Arts], vol. 18 (2023): [pages missing – please add].
• “Emergentist Panentheism and Orthodox Theology: A Preliminary Encounter”, Theophany Journal (University of Athens Press), vol. 5 (2023): 45–77. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26247/theophany.2452
• “Η Αλγοριθμική Οντολογία της Τεχνητής Νοημοσύνης και ο Θεολογικός Αποφατισμός της Συνείδησης” [In English: “The Algorithmic Ontology of Artificial Intelligence and the Theological Apophaticism of Consciousness”], Ψυχής Δρόμοι [The Soul’s Roads: Journal for Theology, Psychiatry & Psychology, Harmos Publications], vol. 22 (2021): 84–99.
Book Reviews
• On the Road to Being: St Maximus the Confessor’s Syn-odical Ontology, by Dionysios Skliris, Sebastian Press, Alhambra, California. Synaxis Journal [Σύναξη], vol. 156 (2020): 104–107.
• Polis, Ontology, Ecclesial Event: Engaging with Christos Yannaras' Thought, edited by Sotiris Mitralexis (Porphyra Publications) [In Greek: Πόλις, Οντολογία, Εκκλησιαστικό γεγονός], Synaxis Journal [Σύναξη], vol. 153 (2020): 102–105.
Conferences & Public Talks:
“Theological Anthropology and Transhumanist Metanthropology: Challenges, Convergences, and Divergencies”, presentation at the International Scientific Conference “Metahumanism and Artificial Intelligence” (PHAICON 2024), organized by the Institute St. Maximos the Greek in cooperation with the Office of the Orthodox Church in the European Union, Athens, 18–21 November 2024.
• “Theological Reflections on AI and ChatGPT: The Emergence of Digital Theology”, public talk during the presentation of the journal The Common: the Fine Arts, 7 December 2023.
• “Correlations and Interactions between Theological Anthropology and Artificial Intelligence”, e-conference organized by Vassilis Constantoudis (National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology), 14 June 2020.
• Book Presentation of Polis, Ontology, Ecclesial Event: Engaging with Christos Yannaras' Thought. This edited volume emerged from the 2017 Cambridge conference and was published in English by James Clarke & Co., event held on 16 December 2019.
• “Η Ιωάννειος Παράδοση της Δύσης: Το Παράδειγμα του Ειρηναίου Λουγδούνων” [“The Johannine Tradition of the West: The Example of Irenaeus of Lyon”], 9th International Conference of Studium Historicorum Ecclesiasticorum, Kalamata, 26–29 October 2019.
