Latest news with #Aristotle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
I'm convinced, The Young and the Restless' Aristotle Dumas has to be Cane
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The streets of Genoa City continue to whisper the name of Aristotle Dumas, and yet, almost no one on The Young and the Restless canvas knows who he is. Sure, word around town is that he wants to acquire Chancellor, but the true identity of the tycoon remains a mystery. However, The Young and the Restless writers have dropped enough breadcrumbs to lead me to believe that Aristotle Dumas is actually Cane Ashby. Although the rumor has been floating around social media for a while, it wasn't until The Young and the Restless episode from April 2 that I jumped on the Cane bandwagon. In the episode, Jack (Peter Bergman) briefly stated that Aristotle arrived on the business scene about five or six years ago. That may not sound like a big deal initially, but doing some research, Cane (Daniel Goddard) was last spotted in Genoa City in 2019, which was five or six years ago. Cane has a history of running cons, and he learned from the best conman he knows, his father. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that in his time offscreen, he managed to amass a fortune to somehow build an empire. Months ago, Victor (Eric Braeden) informed Lily (Christel Khalil) that Aristotle had been looking into Winters, prior to Damian's (Jermaine Rivers) arrival on the scene, and before Nate (Sean Dominic) came to learn that Damian is his half-brother. I found that odd at the time of the reveal, and my suspicions were only compounded when Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan) blew back into town. When she popped back up in town and met with Lily, Devon and Nate, she revealed herself to be Aristotle's lawyer and the only person to know his identity. She assured the trio that Aristotle has absolutely no desire to take over Winters, as he has nothing but a deep admiration for the company. Interestingly enough, Amanda claimed that Aristotle admired Neil Winters (Kristoff St. John) very much and believes Winters 'perfectly embodies Neil's approach to business.' Additionally, Aristotle reportedly thinks that Neil would be very proud of Lily, Devon and Nate. If you ask me, the entire sentiment sounds like it's coming from someone who knew Neil personally, and given Cane was his son-in-law for years, we'd say Cane fits the bill. If Aristotle really does have an appreciation for the Winters family and is on a quest to take over Chancellor, I think it all boils down to Lily. I think it's entirely possible that Cane is Aristotle and would like to acquire Chancellor as a big gesture to win her back. It's no secret that Lily was crushed after Billy fired her from Chancellor, and further enraged when she aligned with Victor and Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) to get back into the CEO chair, only to be double-crossed. Cane was likely upset to hear all this news. Since Lily is arguably the love of his life, Cane could be trying to acquire Chancellor to give it to her to run, not only to prove his love, but to show that he believes she should be running the business. The idea isn't far-fetched, especially when you think of the lengths Victor went to in order to get the company for Nikki. I also found it rather interesting that in The Young and the Restless episode from May 30, while Lily ate dinner with Damian, she brought up her romance history with Cane. It sounds like foreshadowing of Cane's return to me. Now if you're into other realms of the soap world, then you know the original Cane potrayer, Goddard, is currently starring in General Hospital as a dubious professor. So if I'm right about my Cane theory, Goddard may not be available to reprise his role. Thankfully, Days of Our Lives star Billy Flynn is set to make a debut on The Young and the Restless soon. Given his role hasn't been disclosed as of publication, it's entirely possible that Flynn plays a new version of Cane. With Rory Gibson crushing it as the new Michael on General Hospital, I won't rule out the possibility that a new actor can add some excitement to a veteran character. New episodes of The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Episodes become available to stream on Paramount Plus the next day.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Young and the Restless spoilers: Aristotle's party bombshell rocks Genoa City?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Before The Young and the Restless' Aristotle Dumas makes his official debut, we already have to credit him for accomplishing one triumph. We can't recall the last time a character was mentioned so many times on the soap and so impactful to the canvas of the series, despite never appearing. Aristotle's name has been on the tip of nearly everyone's tongue in Genoa City, with the Newmans, the Abbotts, the Winters/Hastings bunch and Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) all wanting to know more about the mysteries surrounding this secretive business tycoon. Now, there have been a few hints to suggest Aristotle's true intentions and identity. Billy (Jason Thompson) and Amanda (Mishael Morgan) have said repeatedly that Aristotle wasn't happy with the way Victor (Eric Braeden) acquired Chancellor, and Aristotle has his eyes on taking the company. As far as Aristotle's real identity, Victor and Michael (Christian Leblanc) tossed around the possibility that he is Tucker (Trevor St. John), based on Aristotle's interest in Chancellor and the Winters family. Plus, the Mustache assumed there was a connection between Glissade and the names of Aristotle's companies. However, our best guess is that Aristotle is Cane. That would explain the connection to Chancellor and the Winters family and Aristotle's alleged admiration of Neil (Kristoff St. John), while also fitting our theory that Aristotle's push to acquire Chancellor is about getting the company to give to Lily (Christel Khalil) a big gesture to win her back. With all that being said, it looks like Aristotle's big reveal is in the foreseeable future. In The Young and the Restless episode airing on May 30, Aristotle has a messenger deliver invitations around Genoa City that cordially invite people to join Aristotle for an 'extended stay at his summer home in Nice, France.' The kicker here is that the festivities start on Friday, June 13. The interesting choice in date, compounded with the fact that he invited all the big players in town (Victor and the Newmans included), leads us to believe Aristotle has some big surprises in store. Naturally, we think Aristotle will finally unveil his real identity. That in itself will be enough to make attendees drop their jaws. However, we suspect he may have something else up his sleeve that may come as an even bigger shocker. If we had to guess what that may be, we've whittled our list down to two possibilities. First, we suspect there's a chance Aristotle reveals a major move he's made against Victor. Perhaps Aristotle has convinced the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice that Victor acquired Chancellor through improper means, and the federal government has therefore voided the sale. If that turns out to be the case, ownership of Chancellor could be up for grabs, unless Aristotle has already purchased it. Our other guess is that Aristotle lets it be known that he actually has an accomplice in all of this. Amanda confirmed that Aristotle is a man, but there have been rumors out there about the possibility that Aristotle could be Lily's mom, Druscilla (Victoria Rowell). Perhaps both are true to a degree. Yes, Druscilla is believed to have died long ago, but in soapy fashion, maybe she's been alive all this time and connected with the guy behind Aristotle, and the two have been working together for a few years, waiting for the right time to tell it all. Admittedly, this is a bombshell theory that borders on far-fetched, but we won't rule it out. For now, as we wait to see what happens at this Aristotle party, we'll just mark Friday, June 13, on our calendar. New episodes of The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Episodes become available to stream on Paramount Plus the next day.
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Scroll.in
Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg's suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic
Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that AI chatbots could combat social isolation by serving as 'friends' for people experiencing loneliness. He cited statistics that the average American has fewer than three friends but yearns for as many as 15. He was close: According to a 2021 report from the Survey Center on American Life, about half of Americans have fewer than four close friends. Zuckerberg then posited that AI could help bridge this gap by providing constant, personalized interactions. 'I would guess that over time we will find the vocabulary as a society to be able to articulate why that is valuable,' he added. Zuckerberg explaining how Meta is creating personalized AI friends to supplement your real ones: 'The average American has 3 friends, but has demand for 15.' — Roman Helmet Guy (@romanhelmetguy) April 30, 2025 Loneliness and social disconnection are serious problems. But can AI really be a solution? Might relying on AI for emotional support create a false sense of connection and possibly exacerbate feelings of isolation? And while AI can simulate certain aspects of companionship, doesn't it lack the depth, empathy and mutual understanding inherent to human friendship? Researchers have started exploring these questions. But as a moral philosopher, I think it's worth turning to a different source: the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Though it might seem odd to consult someone who lived over 2,000 years ago on questions of modern technology, Aristotle offers enduring insights about friendships – and which ones are particularly valuable. More important than spouses, kids or money In his philosophical text Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle maintained that true friendship is essential for 'eudaimonia,' a Greek word that is typically translated as 'flourishing' or 'well-being.' For Aristotle, friends are not just nice to have – they're a central component of ethical living and essential for human happiness and fulfillment. 'Without friends, no one would choose to live,' he writes, 'though he had all other goods.' A solitary existence, even one of contemplation and intellectual achievement, is less complete than a life with friends. Friendship contributes to happiness by providing emotional support and solidarity. It is through friendship that individuals can cultivate their virtues, feel a sense of security and share their accomplishments. Empirical evidence seems to support the connection between friendship and eudaimonia. A 2023 Pew Center research report found that 61 per cent of adults in the US say having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life – a higher proportion than those who cited marriage, children or money. A British study of 6,500 adults found that those who had regular interactions with a wide circle of friends were more likely to have better mental health and be happier. And a meta-analysis of nearly 150 studies found that a lack of close friends can increase the risk of death as much as smoking, drinking or obesity. Different friends for different needs But the benefit of friendship that Aristotle focuses on the most is the role that it plays in the development of virtue. The first tier is what he calls 'friendships of utility,' or a friendship that is based on mutual benefit. Each party is primarily concerned with what they can gain from the other. These might be colleagues at work or neighbours who look after each other's pets when one of them is on vacation. The problem with these friendships is that they are often fleeting and dissolve once one person stops benefiting from the relationship. The second is 'friendships of pleasure,' which are friendships based on shared interests. These friendships can also be transient, depending on how long the shared interests last. Passionate love affairs, people belonging to the same book club and fishing buddies all fall into this category. This type of friendship is important, since you tend to enjoy your passions more when you can share them with another person. But this is still not the highest form of friendship. According to Aristotle, the third and strongest form of friendship is a 'virtuous friendship.' This is based on mutual respect for each other's virtues and character. Two people with this form of friendship value each other for who they truly are and share a deep commitment to the well-being and moral development of one another. These friendships are stable and enduring. In a virtuous friendship, each individual helps the other become better versions of themselves through encouragement, moral guidance and support. As Aristotle writes: 'Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good and alike in virtue. … Now those who wish well to their friends for their sake are most truly friends; for they do this by reason of their own nature and not incidentally; therefore their friendship lasts as long as they are good – and goodness is an enduring thing.' In other words, friendships rooted in virtue not only bring happiness and fulfilment but also facilitate personal growth and moral development. And it happens naturally within the context of the relationship. According to Aristotle, a virtuous friend provides a mirror in which one can reflect upon their own actions, thoughts and decisions. When one friend demonstrates honesty, generosity or compassion, the other can learn from these actions and be inspired to cultivate these virtues in themselves. No nourishment for the soul So, what does this mean for AI friends? By Aristotle's standards, AI chatbots – however sophisticated – cannot be true friends. They may be able to provide information that helps you at work, or engage in lighthearted conversation about your various interests. But they fundamentally lack qualities that define a virtuous friendship. AI is incapable of mutual concern or genuine reciprocity. While it can be programmed to simulate empathy or encouragement, it does not truly care about the individual – nor does it ask anything of its human users. Moreover, AI cannot engage in the shared pursuit of the good life. Aristotle's notion of friendship involves a shared journey on the path to eudaimonia, during which each person helps another live wisely and well. This requires the kind of moral development that only human beings, who face real ethical challenges and make real decisions, can undergo. I think it is best to think of AI as a tool. Just like having a good shovel or rake can improve your quality of life, having the rake and the shovel do not mean you no longer need any friends – nor do they replace the friends whose shovels and rakes you used to borrow. While AI may offer companionship in a limited and functional sense, it cannot meet the Aristotelian criteria for virtuous friendship. It may fill a temporary social void, but it cannot nourish the soul. If anything, the rise of AI companions should serve as a reminder of the urgent need to foster real friendships in an increasingly disconnected world.
Fast Company
5 days ago
- Health
- Fast Company
Can AI solve the loneliness epidemic? Here's what Aristotle would say
Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that AI chatbots could combat social isolation by serving as 'friends' for people experiencing loneliness. He cited statistics that the average American has fewer than 3 friends but yearns for as many as 15. He was close: According to a 2021 report from the Survey Center on American Life, about half of Americans have fewer than four close friends. Zuckerberg then posited that AI could help bridge this gap by providing constant, personalized interactions. 'I would guess that over time we will find the vocabulary as a society to be able to articulate why that is valuable,' he added. Loneliness and social disconnection are serious problems. But can AI really be a solution? Might relying on AI for emotional support create a false sense of connection and possibly exacerbate feelings of isolation? And while AI can simulate certain aspects of companionship, doesn't it lack the depth, empathy, and mutual understanding inherent to human friendship? Researchers have started exploring these questions. But as a moral philosopher, I think it's worth turning to a different source: the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Though it might seem odd to consult someone who lived over 2,000 years ago on questions of modern technology, Aristotle offers enduring insights about friendships—and which ones are particularly valuable. More important than spouses, kids, or money In his philosophical text Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle maintained that true friendship is essential for eudaimonia, a Greek word that is typically translated as 'flourishing' or 'well-being.' For Aristotle, friends are not just nice to have—they're a central component of ethical living and essential for human happiness and fulfillment. 'Without friends, no one would choose to live,' he writes, 'though he had all other goods.' A solitary existence, even one of contemplation and intellectual achievement, is less complete than a life with friends. Friendship contributes to happiness by providing emotional support and solidarity. It is through friendship that individuals can cultivate their virtues, feel a sense of security and share their accomplishments. Empirical evidence seems to support the connection between friendship and eudaimonia. A 2023 Pew Center research report found that 61% of adults in the U.S. say having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life—a higher proportion than those who cited marriage, children or money. A British study of 6,500 adults found that those who had regular interactions with a wide circle of friends were more likely to have better mental health and be happier. And a meta-analysis of nearly 150 studies found that a lack of close friends can increase the risk of death as much as smoking, drinking, or obesity. Different friends for different needs But the benefit of friendship that Aristotle focuses on the most is the role that it plays in the development of virtue. In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle identifies three tiers of friendship. The first tier is what he calls 'friendships of utility,' or a friendship that is based on mutual benefit. Each party is primarily concerned with what they can gain from the other. These might be colleagues at work or neighbors who look after each other's pets when one of them is on vacation. The problem with these friendships is that they are often fleeting and dissolve once one person stops benefiting from the relationship. The second is 'friendships of pleasure,' which are friendships based on shared interests. These friendships can also be transient, depending on how long the shared interests last. Passionate love affairs, people belonging to the same book club, and fishing buddies all fall into this category. This type of friendship is important, since you tend to enjoy your passions more when you can share them with another person. But this is still not the highest form of friendship. According to Aristotle, the third and strongest form of friendship is a 'virtuous friendship.' This is based on mutual respect for each other's virtues and character. Two people with this form of friendship value each other for who they truly are and share a deep commitment to the well-being and moral development of one another. These friendships are stable and enduring. In a virtuous friendship, each individual helps the other become better versions of themselves through encouragement, moral guidance, and support. As Aristotle writes: 'Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good and alike in virtue. . . . Now those who wish well to their friends for their sake are most truly friends; for they do this by reason of their own nature and not incidentally; therefore their friendship lasts as long as they are good—and goodness is an enduring thing.' In other words, friendships rooted in virtue not only bring happiness and fulfillment but also facilitate personal growth and moral development. And it happens naturally within the context of the relationship. According to Aristotle, a virtuous friend provides a mirror in which one can reflect upon their own actions, thoughts, and decisions. When one friend demonstrates honesty, generosity, or compassion, the other can learn from these actions and be inspired to cultivate these virtues in themselves. No nourishment for the soul So, what does this mean for AI friends? By Aristotle's standards, AI chatbots—however sophisticated—cannot be true friends. They may be able to provide information that helps you at work, or engage in lighthearted conversation about your various interests. But they fundamentally lack qualities that define a virtuous friendship. AI is incapable of mutual concern or genuine reciprocity. While it can be programmed to simulate empathy or encouragement, it does not truly care about the individual—nor does it ask anything of its human users. Moreover, AI cannot engage in the shared pursuit of the good life. Aristotle's notion of friendship involves a shared journey on the path to eudaimonia, during which each person helps another live wisely and well. This requires the kind of moral development that only human beings, who face real ethical challenges and make real decisions, can undergo. I think it is best to think of AI as a tool. Just like having a good shovel or rake can improve your quality of life, having the rake and the shovel do not mean you no longer need any friends—nor do they replace the friends whose shovels and rakes you used to borrow. While AI may offer companionship in a limited and functional sense, it cannot meet the Aristotelian criteria for virtuous friendship. It may fill a temporary social void, but it cannot nourish the soul. If anything, the rise of AI companions should serve as a reminder of the urgent need to foster real friendships in an increasingly disconnected world.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Young and the Restless spoilers: what is Aristotle's real motive?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One of the biggest mysteries in all of daytime TV right now is the identity of The Young and the Restless' Aristotle Dumas. Sure, there are questions swirling around who's been trying to kill Sonny (Maurice Benard) on General Hospital, and what Martin (Brandon Claybon) has been hiding on Beyond the Gates, but the real person behind Aristotle Dumas is arguably bigger than those for one simple reason in our eyes — Victor (Eric Braeden). It's been teased that the successful Aristotle is the only one who has been able to go toe-to-toe with The Great Victor Newman in business, and those are bragging rights no one really has the pleasure of having. Plus, Aristotle has managed to impact every major family in town, and yet, no one seems to know what he's up to. They don't know what he's after, who he's after and why he's inserting himself in the Genoa City corporate world. Zeroing in on this last point, what is Aristotle's real motive? That's a question we've given some real thought to. Most people don't go around provoking Victor, because whether you like him or not, he's a masterful tactician and has a knack for usually coming out on top. So doing anything to prompt Victor to do so much as raise an eyebrow is dangerous. According to Billy (Jason Thompson), Aristotle allegedly has a vested interest in acquiring Chancellor to get one up on Victor. However, this seems like a lofty goal for Aristotle just to say he beat The Newman patriarch. Not only is the company huge, but we're still having a hard time imagining the complexities it would take to steal Chancellor from The Mustache. When Victor took it from Billy, he technically bought the company from the owner, Billy's mom Jill (Jess Walton). We don't envision Victor just stripping the business from Nikki (Melody Thomas Scott) and handing it to Aristotle, nor do we see a plan yet for how Aristotle could launch a hostile takeover. Again, because of this, we picture Aristotle would have to jump through a lot of hoops just to tell Victor, 'I beat you.' Now if Aristotle turns out to be Tucker, then Aristotle's motivation to get Chancellor makes sense. Chancellor was the corporate baby of Tucker's mom, and he's been trying to acquire it for years to preserve a legacy for Devon (Bryton James). Plus, we imagine Tucker is still livid with Victor for working with Audra (Zuleyka Silver) to steal Glissade. Even if Aristotle is Cane, it makes sense for him to want Chancellor if he wants it to make a grand gesture to win Lily (Christel Khalil) back. After all, Aristotle has been doing some digging into Winters, but was that fact-finding mission more about Lily herself? But with The Young and the Restless writers opting to bring back blasts from the past lately, we have to think that Aristotle's gripe with Victor is both deeply personal and from yesteryear. If writers can bring back storylines involving Cameron Kirsten (Linden Ashby) and Eve Howard (Margaret Mason) via Jordan (Colleen Zenk) and Claire (Hayley Erin), we have to consider that Aristotle could be a member of the Prentiss family. In the early days of The Young and the Restless, the Prentiss family was one of the core clans of Genoa City and had a corporation that Victor once stole. Lucas Prentiss (Tom Ligon) came up with a scheme to get it back, in which Lorie Brooks (Jaime Lyn Bauer) seduced Victor and convinced him to marry her. Then, right before the wedding, she got Victor to sign over the company to her so she could get it to the Prentiss family. Lucas wound up leaving town, but could he return, still peeved by Victor's actions decades ago and hoping to go after Victor? Anything is possible. With summer around the corner, we just hope the real Aristotle surfaces. We don't want all the mystery surrounding this enigma carrying into the fall. New episodes of The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Episodes become available to stream on Paramount Plus the next day.
