Program Phaicon 2024 - Eng
Program Phaicon 2024 - Eng
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
PHAICON 2024
ATHENS, 18 - 21 NOVEMBER 2024
DIVANI CARAVEL HOTEL
Organizers:
Saint Maxim the Greek Institute and
115 Speakers The Office of the Orthodox Church
from 18 Countries to the European Union
www.phaicon.net
PHAICON 2024
Nous distanced from God
becomes either
beastly or demonic
(Saint Gregory Palamas)
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Apostolos Nikolaidis, Emeritus Professor at the ΝKUA – President St Maxim the Greek Institute
(Scientific Committe Chair)
Fr. Dr. Konstantinos Kenanidis, Secretary General, Office of the Orthodox Church at the European
Union, Director of the Institute of Orthodox Theology, Apostle Paul, Brussels
Georgios Mantzaridis, Emeritus Professor of Theology and Christian Ethics, at the Aristotle Univer-
sity of Thessaloniki
Daniel Hinshaw, M.D. Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics Center & Professor Emeritus of
Surgery at the University of Michigan
Ioannis A. Ieropoulos, Professor, Chair in Environmental Engineering Civil, Maritime and Environmen-
tal Engineering Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Research Interests: Environmental
Engineering, Bioelectrochemistry, Autonomous Bio-Robotics, University of Southampton
Konstantinos Kornarakis, Professor of Christian Ethics and Bioethics, at the National and Kapodis-
trian University of Athens
Ziad Kobti, Professor and Director of the School of Computer Science, at the University of Windsor,
Canada
Adrian Lemeni, Professor, Director of the Doctoral School at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Di-
rector of the Center of Dialogue and Research in Theology, Philosophy and Science, University of
Bucharest
Michail Κ. Mantzanas, Professor of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Philosophy (Supreme Ecclesiasti-
cal Academy of Athens), Teaching Professor of Postgraduate Studies – Programs (Department of
Philosophy, School of Philosophy EKPA), Research Associate – Coordinator of the Laboratory of
Philosophy Counseling & Philosophy of Self-Knowledge (Department of Philosophy, School of
Philosophy EKPA)
= Fr. Antoine Melki, Chairman, Department of Computer Science, Associate Professor, Faculty of
Arts & Sciences, Coordinator, Arab Support Center for Free and Open-Source Software (Ma3bar),
University of Balamand.
Dn. Adrian Sorin Mihalache, Lecturer, Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza Universi-
ty, Former Executive Director of the Centre for Research on Medicine and Spirituality, Providenta
Hospital, Iasi, Former Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Religion, Philoso-
phy and Science, “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iasi
Aleksandar Petrovic, Professor, Seminar for Social Sciences, at the Faculty of Philology
Vice-President – of the Department of History, and Philosophy of Science and Technology, at the
University of Belgrade
Kostas Theologou, Professor Head of the Humanities Department at the National Technical Univer-
sity of Athens.
Fr. Alexis Torrance, Archbishop Demetrios Associate Professor of Byzantine Theology, Protopresby-
ter of the Ecumenical Throne, at the Department of Theology, College of Arts and Letters, Univer-
sity of Notre Dame
Hank Hanegraaff, President of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man
broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast
Nickolaos Koios, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Bioethics, at the Department of Theol-
ogy. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Dr. Vassilios Constantoudis, Senior Researcher, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN)
of NCSR Demokritos
Fr. Bassam A. Nassif, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, at the St John of Damascus Institute
of Theology, University of Balamand
Petros Panagiotopoulos, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ethics of Scientists Applications, at the De-
partment of Theology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Evaggelos D. Protopapadakis, Professor of Applied Ethics, Director of the NKUA Applied Philosophy
Research Lab, Head of the Greek Unit, International Chair in Bioethics (WMA Cooperation Cen-
ter), Member of the National Commission for Bioethics and Technoethics
Dr. George Giannakopoulos, Researcher, SKEL lab, Institute of Informatics and Telecommunications
of NCSR Demokritos, co-founder and CEO of SciFY, a not-for-profit AI organization bringing AI
results to society
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Serapheim Politis
Eleni Xanthaki
Sofia Kolokotroni
AIM AND PURPOSE OF THE CONFERENCE
From the humanism of Modernity and the Enlightenment there sprang great confidence in
the ability of human reason and the potential of the human spirit to define not only the course of
our life but also our codes of values. What followed in the twentieth century did not confirm the
anthropological optimism of modernity. Despite significant scientific achievements and social
gains, humanity emerged deeply wounded from two world wars, from holocausts, genocides,
ethnic cleansings, divisions, totalitarian regimes and the cold war.
Modern societies recognize the need for science and ethics to make common progress. Ethics is,
however, unable to keep pace with the rapid developments in bio-medical technology, the digital
eco-system, cybernetics and robotics, all of which are factors which create new actualities for life
and reality and which foster expectations which are ever less likely to be regarded as scenarios from
science fiction. Artificial intelligence, the latest achievement of scientific applications, has already
taken over a large number of everyday functions, meeting human needs through the digital eco-
system and automation. However, the prospect that it may be linked to human nature itself and to
the human person poses huge questions for the fields of ethics, anthropology, science, philosophy
and theology.
The deductions by modern intellectuals who link AI to the evolution of the human species have
introduced new terms such as trans-human and post-human. These terms have already been the
subject of extensive scientific, philosophical and theological reflection. Without doubt, they will
soon come under the scrutiny of politics and the law.
Of particular concern is the outbreak of a kind of deconstructionist and hostile rightsism which
has become marked in the world, known as wokeism. Already, important thinkers have noted
the reversal and traducement of commonly accepted values, and even of common sense, at the
altar of a new attitude to life and a theory. The latter, either through fear-engendering hysteria or
through a skillfully veiled mask, changes the concepts of anthropology, the socially accepted and
the politically correct and thus abolishes every universal criterion of exactitude. This attitude, which
is a misinterpretation, misuse and abuse of the foundation of human rights, may bring with it
disastrous results if it forms the anthropological basis for the espousal of artificial intelligence and
what is characterized as post-humanism.
It should be stressed that Orthodox Christian Theology does not have human rights as its main
theme, but rather the rights of God. Nevertheless, Orthodox Christian theologians do talk about
human rights, and have put forward certain improvements or additions to the existing theories.
These do not seem to have moved or to move people to any great extent. Today we have arrived at
‘Woke Culture’.
Wokeism is perhaps particularly topical for theology. But here, being woke must be of an entirely
different nature. If wokeism for post-modern people aims at their liberation from all natural,
human and social restrictions, by abrogating them and consenting to absolute contrariness and
wantonness, for Orthodox Christian theology it should aim at our total liberation, which is achieved
through submission to the will of the Incarnate Word. Although this truth exists in Orthodox
Christian theology, it is not sufficiently emphasized in its encounter with everyday reality. The total
manumission proposed by wokeism removes their humanity from people, in essence leading to the
destructuring of society and death at its own hand. This is easy and can be applied comfortably in
everyday life, as witnessed by its wide-spread acceptance. Complete adherence to the will of the
Incarnate Word is difficult, however, and is achieved through everyday sacrifice. But that does,
indeed, lead to absolute freedom, to the freedom of God Who is unable to do evil, that is to deny
Himself. This is our absolute freedom: the freedom of deification.
Having been made in the image of the absolutely personal God, we are stifled by the limitations
of our created nature. Our nature has lost its unity. It has become alienated and fractured. The
desire for absolute freedom has been undermined by the alienation of our nature. We feel chained
to our self and seek total liberation from the outside world. We despair over our naive attempts
at self-knowledge and hope to be redeemed through knowledge of and exploitation of the world
that surrounds us. The sciences and technology are constantly discovering means of satisfying our
material needs and desires, even while they are also deepening despair, as well as the concern for
the tragedy we observe at the depth of our inner world and the state and prospects of our existence.
We rejoice at our successes but are also wary of their consequences.
The classical Ancient Greek exhortation ‘Know thyself’ is rather intimidating because, when
it is not applied with the façade of hypocrisy and narcissism, it intensifies disappointment and
leads to despair. This is where the ascetic tradition of Christianity presents the way of the cross and
resurrection, culminating in the charismatic despair of the ascetics. Every person knows that they
are not the cause of their existence. Having accepted God as our creator, it is natural that we also
seek from him the meaning and purpose of our existence. Christians are called upon to take up their
cross and follow Christ ‘wherever he goes’. ‘We commend ourselves and others and all our life to
Christ our God’. The common journey in this direction, with a humble outlook, offers people support
in their difficulties and imbues their despair with grace.
THEMATIC AREAS
l Artificial Intelligence
Kostas Theologou
Dr. Monica Turinici, (Doctor of Health
(Professor at the NTUA)
Administration, Biostatistician)
The postmodern origins of conceptual
09:15-09:30 The vulnerability of healthcare actors regarding
confusion and the values of lifeworld
the use of Artificial Intelligence algorithms
(Lebenswelt ): incubating totalitarian
Monica Turinici - ONLINE PRESENTATION
institutions in a “woke culture” society
Michael G. Michael, (Honorary Associate
Professor, University of Wollongong, Australia);
Ioanna Komninou
Katina Michael (Professor at the Arizona
(Associate Professor at the ΝKUA)
09:30-9:45 State University, USA)
Woke culture in religious Education
in schools Religion, Science and Technology:
An Orthodox Perspective
ONLINE PRESENTATION
09:45-10:00 Discussion Discussion
Wednesday 20 November 2024
TIME OLYMPIA ROOM Α OLYMPIA ROOM Β
Session Β3
Parallel Session Β4
Moderator: Jean-Claude Larchet
Moderator: Dan Chitoiu
(Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
(Professor at the University of Iași)
and Theology)
Fr. Bassam Nassif (Associate Profes-
Dr. Petros D. Damianos
sor at the University of Balamand)
(Faculty Member at the NTUA)
10:00-10:15 Human Will and Freedom from Pas-
Strategic Communication of the term
sions: The Change of a Homosexual
«Posthuman»
Orientation
Fr. Răzvan Andrei Ionescu
(Coordinator in the field of Theology
Fr. Ignatius Green
and Science at the Centre Orthodoxe
(Lecturer at the Holy Trinity
d’Etudes et de Recherches ‘Dumitru
Orthodox Seminary, Jordanville)
Stăniloae’)
10:15-10:30 The Flesh, Strange Flesh, and Estranged
Has our Christian Orthodox Anthropology to
Flesh Patristic and Canonical Paradigms
change under the pressure of AI and Virtual
for a Dogmatic Response to the Sexual
Reality recent developments? A theological
Revolution
perspective about Human and Reality
enhancement .
Fr. Andreas G. Houpos
Christos N. Tsironis
(Vicar of Saint Nektarios’ Church,
(Professor at the AUTh)
10:30-10:45 Charlotte, North Carolina)
After the human, beyond the human or
Let it Be: Reflections on Striving to Sim-
towards the human?
ply be Orthodox in an American Parish
10:45-11:00 Discussion Discussion
11:00:11:30 Break - Refreshments Break - Refreshments
Session Β5
Parallel Session Β6
Moderator: Ioannis A. Daglis
Moderator: Fr. Catalin Dobri (Faculty of
(Professor at the NKUA, President Theology at the University of Bucharest)
of the Hellenic Space Center)
Maria Giannakaki
Archbishop Makarios of Australia (EU Rapporteur at the Council of Europe)
11:30-11:45 Artificial Intelligence – A theological The right to religious participation as a funda-
approach mental human right and the dangers which
arise from the use of Artificial Intelligence
Constantine Psimopoulos Kostas Tsiantis (Professor at the Universi-
(Professor at the Harvard ty of West Attica)
11:45-12:00 Medical School) Philosophical education and Democracy
Post humanism Ethos: from a meta-an- as necessary terms for the control of artificial
thropologic to e meta-ethics «logos» of AI intelligence and its systems
Ziad Kobti (Professor Fr. Sorin-Grigore Vulcănescu
at the University of Windsor) (Assistant Professor at the University of
12:00-12:15 On the ethics surrounding the use Craiova)
of Generative Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence: (not)limited
on matters of faith in imitation?
12:15-12:30 Discussion Discussion
PLENARY SESSION
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ROUND TABLE
Coordinator:
Evangelos Protopapadakis (Professor at the ΝKUA)
Guests:
Stylianos Antonarakis
(Emeritus Professor at the University of Geneva Medical School)
18:00-19:00 Ziad Kobti
(Professor at the University of Windsor)
Efthymios Nikolaidis
(Emeritus Research Director at the N.H.R.F)
Ioannis Antoniou
(Professor at the AUTh)
Mihai Maftei
(Researcher on ethics and responsible development of AI systems)
UNITED KINGDOM
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jean-Claude Larchet (Emeritus
Professor of Philosophy and Theology)
Archimandrite Zacharias, (Holy Monastery of
St. John the Baptist, Essex) Marc Roux (Chairman of the French
Union of Transhumanists)
Archimandrite Peter, ( Abbot of the Holy
Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Essex)
Fr. Hieromonk Kenneth Alonso
GERMANY
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Biotechnology Advisor MD, Retired Mihai Maftei (M.A. - Researcher on ethics and
Professor of Medicine and Pathology) responsible development of AI systems)
Fr. Patrick Dr. John Ramsey (Institute for Georg M. V. Olowson (AI Governance
Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS), Leader, D/A/CH at IBM)
Cambridge)
Ioannis Ieropoulos (Professor at the University SWITZERLAND
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GREECE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AUSTRALIA
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia
(Professor at the ΝKUA)
Archbishop Makarios of Australia
Metropolitan Ierotheos of Nafpaktos and
Michael G. Michael, (Honorary Associate Ayios Vlasios
Professor at the University of Wollongong,
Australia) Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and
Lavreotiki
BELGIUM
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini (Professor at the
NΚUA) Trans-Humanism, Post-Humanism
Fr. Dr. Konstantinos Kenanidis (General and Theology
Secretary of the Office of the Orthodox
Church at the European Union) Metropolitan Ioustinos of Kalamaria and Nea
Krini
Bishop Apostolos of Tanagra (Post doc on
FRANCE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
autism, PhD, Med, Office Director of the
Fr. Răzvan Andrei Ionescu (Coordinator in Representation Office of the Church of
the field of Theology and Science, Centre Greece in Brussels)
Orthodoxe d’Etudes et de Recherches Archimandrite Elissaios (Abbot of the Holy
‘Dumitru Stăniloae’) Monastery of Simonos Petras, Holy
Franck Damour (ETHICS EA7446, Catholic Mountain)
University of Lille) Archimandrite Efraim (Abbot of the Holy
David Doat (ETHICS EA7446, Catholic and Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Holy
University of Lille) Mountain)
Fr. Athanasios Gikas (Dean of the School of Nikolaos Koios (Associate Professor at the AUTh)
Theology at the AUTh)
Konstantinos Kornarakis (Professor at the
Fr. Vasileios Kalliakmanis (Professor at the AUTh) ΝKUA)
Fr. Nikolaos Loudovikos (Professor at the Vasilis Konstandoudis (Lead Researcher NCSR
University of Ioannina) Demokritos)
Fr. Theodoros Tsabatzidis (PhD at the Ionian Konstantinos Kotsiopoulos (Professor at the
University) AUTh)
Fr. Christoforos Chronis (Faculty Member at Maria Loupidou (MSc. Politics and
the Theological School, NKUA) Communication)
Sister Parakliti (ΤhD, Psychotherapist) Georgios Mantzaridis (Emeritus Professor at the
AUTh)
Ioannis Antoniou (Professor at the AUTh)
Apostolos Nikolaïdis (Emeritus Professor at
Christos Arabatzis (Professor at the AUTh)
the ΝKUA – President St Maxim the Greek
Dimitrios Vasilakis (Assistant Professor at the Institute)
University of Ioannina)
Efthymios Nikolaidis (Emeritus Research Director
Ioannis A. Daglis (Professor at the NKUA, N.H.R.F)
President of the Hellenic Space Center)
Dr. Kleanthis E. Nizamis (PostDoc, Αdjunct
Maria Giannakaki (EU Rapporteur, Council of Lecturer at the AUTh, Public relations and
Europe) communication ORMYLIA Foundation)
Dr. Petros Damianos (Faculty Member at the Eleni Palioura (Doctoral Candidate in
National Technical University of Athens) Ecclesiastical Law, Athens School of Law)
Dimopoulos Christos (MSc Astrophysics ) Petros Panayiotopoulos (Associate Professor at
the AUTh)
Maria Douka (Department of Eastern Church
Studies at theUniversity College Stockholm, Symeon Paschalidis (Professor at the AUTh,
Sweden) Director of the Patriarchal Institute for
Patristic Studies)
Kostas Theologou (Professor at the NTUA)
Georgios Patseas (PhD candidate at the AUTh)
Dr. Georgios Karagiannis (Electrical & Computer
Engineer Scientific Director, ORMYLIA Evangelos Protopapadakis (Professor at the
Foundation) ΝKUA)
Dr. Spiros Kiartzis (Director of Alternative Dr. Kostas Sfakianoudis (Obstetrician/
Sources of Energy and New Technologies, Gynecologist)
HELLENiQ ENERGY)
Dr. Paris Tsachouridis (Department of Eastern
Dr. Georgios Koios (Endocrinologist) Church Studies at the University College
Stockholm, Sweden)
Ioanna Komninou (Associate Professor at the
ΝKUA) Kostas Tsiantis (Professor at the University of
West Attica)
George Contogeorgis (Prof. Former Rector at the
Panteion University)
Kanaris Tsinganos (Emeritus Professor at the Hank Hanegraaff (Chairman of the Christian
ΝKUA) Research Institute)
Vasileios A. Tsigkos (Professor at the AUTh) Jacob (Chengwei) Feng (Postdoctoral Scholar
at Fuller Theological Seminary)
Christos N. Tsironis (Professor at the AUTh)
Jonathan Jackson (Actor, Writer and Musician)
Dr. Katerina Tsita (Laboratory Teaching
Staff at the AUTh) Lazar Supic (Researcher at the University of
California, Berkeley)
Dr. Kostas Zorbas (General Director of the
Orthodox Academy of Crete) Mark Graves (Research director AI
& Faith)
Seraphim Bruce Foltz (Emeritus Professor at
ZIMBABWE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
the Eckerd College)
Dr. Sigurd Lefsrud (Professor at the Holy Katina Michael (Professor, Arizona State
Trinity College, Zimbabwe) University, USA)
Constantine Psimopoulos (Professor at the
Harvard Medical School)
USA
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fr. Grigorios Stamkopoulos (Associate
Emmanouil Vlatakis (Professor at the Professor at the AUTh)
University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Fr. Zisis Lappas (Vicar of Saint George’s Church,
David Bradshaw (Professor at the University of Media, Pennsylvania)
Kentucky)
Dan Hinshaw (Emeritus Professor at the
University of Michigan)
CANADA
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Diana Faydysh (Doctoral Candidate at the Ziad Kobti (Professor at the University of
Pacifica Graduate Institute, California) Windsor)
Dn Sampson Ryan R. Nash (Professor at the Fr. Lambros Kamperidis (Doctor of Byzantine
University of Ohio) Studies)
Dr. Jay Richards (Director and Senior Research
Fellow at the The Heritage Foundation,
Washington) CYPRUS
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
LITHUANIA SERBIA
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PORTUGAL
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SLOVAKIA
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Justino Carneiro (Assistant Professor at the Václav Ježek (Faculty Member at the Charles
University of Porto) University, Prague; at the University of Prešov,
Slovakia)
ROMANIA
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE Pemptousia
journal for theological
studies
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