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Scroll.in
3 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.
Miami Herald
13-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Amid loneliness ‘epidemic' in US, one group maintains strong community, poll finds
As Americans report feeling more and more socially isolated, a new study finds that one group maintains a strong sense of community belonging. But that group has been dwindling, according to researchers. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the social disconnection an 'epidemic of loneliness' and equated its impact on lifespan to 'smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,' according to a 2023 report. Recently, a Harvard Youth Poll found that 18% of young adults said they 'do not feel a strong sense of belonging anywhere.' Comparatively, 17% of young adults said they felt 'deeply connected to at least one community.' Twenty-six percent said they felt 'somewhat connected,' per the poll. Religious Americans — including evangelical Christians, Protestants and members of non-Abrahamic faiths — reported much higher levels of community contentedness, researchers said. The poll, published April 25 in the Harvard Political Review, found that 62% of young adults who find religion 'very important' felt a sense of community, while 36% of those who are not religious felt the same, according to the poll. The survey of 2,096 Americans between 18 and 29 years old was conducted between March 14-25, researchers said. 'Americans who belong to a church or place of worship generally have more people they can count on for help and support than the religiously unaffiliated have,' researchers from the Survey Center on American Life said in a 2024 study. But according to a 2024 Gallup poll, most faith groups in the U.S. have been seeing a drop in regular religious service attendance. Thirty percent of Americans said they went to religious services every week or almost every week in 2024, down 8 percentage points from a decade ago, according to the poll, which cited the increase in Americans who aren't religious as the reason. This decline has appeared to stabilize in 2025, according to a Pew Research Center survey, but still remains in the low 30s. Other findings The Harvard survey also identified where people live and education levels as indicators of loneliness. About half of people who live in cities and suburbs said they feel connected to a community, according to the poll. Thirty-nine percent of people living in rural areas and 32% of people living in small towns said the same. Twelve percent of people who have not attended college said they felt deeply connected to a community, while 22% of people with college degrees agreed, the poll found. People with college degrees are more likely to live in areas with public spaces, which helps with feeling more connected, researchers said. Those who are college educated are also more likely to participate in a religious organization, per the poll.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"God Has An Order": Donald Trump's Spiritual Adviser Says Wives Should "Submit" To Their Husbands
Paula White-Cain, a senior adviser for President Donald Trump's White House Faith Office, said in a recent interview that she 'submits' to her husband and that 'God designed' men to be leaders of a household. While speaking to Real America's Voice host Steve Gruber on Wednesday, Cain praised men who are 'returning' to church. 'God is moving mightily, and what's so exciting to me, it's especially among young people and men. Men are the fastest returning to church,' White-Cain said. 'See what she's saying there? Again: Men. We need more fathers, more husbands, more real men,' Gruber said. 'Absolutely,' White-Cain agreed. She added that men 'are becoming the bedrock, which is how God designed it.' A study published last year by the Survey Center on American Life found that church membership was declining among young women in the U.S. at a higher rate than among young men. Nearly two-thirds of young women interviewed said they were not treated as equals to men in churches. White-Cain, a televangelist who has been called President Donald Trump's spiritual adviser, referred to her third husband, Jonathan Cain, as the head of her household, stating, 'God has an order.' She continued, 'If there's ever a time that a decision has to be made and we don't agree on something, he's the head. It's not hard to submit.' The White House Faith Office was established via an executive order in February, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi's Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. 'I'm up here working on the initiatives for President Trump, who's been in ministry for 40 years and understands it,' White-Cain told Gruber. 'But I am so excited about the move of God and, undoubtedly, Bible sales up 22%, people returning to church, and men converting.' The Faith Office leader has faced backlash for her church's financial practices. A Senate Finance Committee investigation that concluded in 2011 found that that White-Cain's then-ministry, the megachurch Without Walls International, used tax-exempt funds to pay her family members millions of dollars in salaries. Even right-wing influencer Jon Root told digital news site NOTUS he was concerned about White-Cain's involvement in the White House. 'Anybody that you know holds true to strong biblical conviction and discernment wouldn't be involved with Paula White,' Root told the outlet last month. 'She's 100% a false teacher.'This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Buzz Feed
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
"God Has An Order": Donald Trump's Spiritual Adviser Says Wives Should "Submit" To Their Husbands
'Absolutely,' White-Cain agreed. She added that men 'are becoming the bedrock, which is how God designed it.' A study published last year by the Survey Center on American Life found that church membership was declining among young women in the U.S. at a higher rate than among young men. Nearly two-thirds of young women interviewed said they were not treated as equals to men in churches. White-Cain, a televangelist who has been called President Donald Trump's spiritual adviser, referred to her third husband, Jonathan Cain, as the head of her household, stating, 'God has an order.' She continued, 'If there's ever a time that a decision has to be made and we don't agree on something, he's the head. It's not hard to submit.' The White House Faith Office was established via an executive order in February, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi's Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. 'I'm up here working on the initiatives for President Trump, who's been in ministry for 40 years and understands it,' White-Cain told Gruber. 'But I am so excited about the move of God and, undoubtedly, Bible sales up 22%, people returning to church, and men converting.' The Faith Office leader has faced backlash for her church's financial practices. A Senate Finance Committee investigation that concluded in 2011 found that that White-Cain's then-ministry, the megachurch Without Walls International, used tax-exempt funds to pay her family members millions of dollars in salaries. Even right-wing influencer Jon Root told digital news site NOTUS he was concerned about White-Cain's involvement in the White House. 'Anybody that you know holds true to strong biblical conviction and discernment wouldn't be involved with Paula White,' Root told the outlet last month. 'She's 100% a false teacher.' HuffPost.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Faith Office Leader Says 'It's Not Hard' For Wives To 'Submit' To Husbands
Paula White-Cain, a senior adviser for President Donald Trump's White House Faith Office, said in a recent interview that she 'submits' to her husband and that 'God designed' men to be leaders of a household. While speaking to Real America's Voice host Steve Gruber on Wednesday, Cain praised men who are 'returning' to church. 'God is moving mightily, and what's so exciting to me, it's especially among young people and men. Men are the fastest returning to church,' White-Cain said. 'See what she's saying there? Again: Men. We need more fathers, more husbands, more real men,' Gruber said. 'Absolutely,' White-Cain agreed. She added that men 'are becoming the bedrock, which is how God designed it.' A study published last year by the Survey Center on American Life found that church membership was declining among young women in the U.S. at a higher rate than among young men. Nearly two-thirds of young women interviewed said they were not treated as equals to men in churches. White-Cain, a televangelist who has been called President Donald Trump's spiritual adviser, referred to her third husband, Jonathan Cain, as the head of her household, stating, 'God has an order.' She continued, 'If there's ever a time that a decision has to be made and we don't agree on something, he's the head. It's not hard to submit.' The White House Faith Office was establishedvia an executive order in February, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi's Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias. 'I'm up here working on the initiatives for President Trump, who's been in ministry for 40 years and understands it,' White-Cain told Gruber. 'But I am so excited about the move of God and, undoubtedly, Bible sales up 22%, people returning to church, and men converting.' The Faith Office leader has faced backlash for her church's financial practices. A Senate Finance Committee investigation that concluded in 2011 found that that White-Cain's then-ministry, the megachurch Without Walls International, used tax-exempt funds to pay her family members millions of dollars in salaries. Even right-wing influencer Jon Root told digital news site NOTUS he was concerned about White-Cain's involvement in the White House. 'Anybody that you know holds true to strong biblical conviction and discernment wouldn't be involved with Paula White,' Root told the outlet last month. 'She's 100% a false teacher.' Maggie Haberman Dishes On Behind-The-Scenes White House Reaction To Hegseth Chaos Judge Castigates Trump Administration For 'Bad Faith' In Abrego Garcia's Deportation Case Catholic Faithful Pay Their Final Respects To Pope Francis In St. Peter's Basilica
