Friendship Is A Strange Concept

Aristotle once said, “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” There are many things that go into the process of friendship. Some people deal with friendship one way while others deal with it in another way. Cicero had a lot to say about the different aspects of friendship in his time, but how would he view modern friendship? Some friendships Cicero may not be proud of; like the common relationships that are forced on in a classroom or work place and the lack of allowing nature to take control and make the friendships that are meant to happen. However, Cicero would be happy with the way the higher level friendships have developed in virtue

According to Aristotle, one can experience three different types of friendship. The first type is a friend who is used for utilitarian purposes. Aristotle, however, quickly dismisses this type. As an example, Aristotle explains that one could never be friends with wine; while wine is satisfying to the person drinking the wine, no person ever wishes wine good fortune (Aristotle, 32). In order for a relationship between two people to be considered a friendship, one must want good things for the person who they consider their friend and vice versa (Aristotle, 32). Aristotle continues to describe another type of friendship, which is friendship for pleasure. According to Aristotle, young adults are most likely to pursue pleasure-related friendships, because the young are more likely to live to please their emotions; they develop friendships and erotic relationships quickly (Aristotle, 33). Aristotle notes that since young people make decisions based on their emotions, they are quick to change passions, friendships, and lovers (Aristotle, 33). Although both parties receive equal pleasure in this type of friendship, Aristotle says that it is not a complete type of friendship because it is short-lasting (Aristotle, 33). Aristotle considers only one type of friendship to be complete, and that is friendship that is devoted to the other person’s virtue. This type of friendship, Aristotle says, is a friendship that is developed slowly and infrequently; this is the only type of

Age of Economics”, that there are three types of friends according to Aristotle, which are friends

We are social creatures. We surround ourselves with other human beings, our friends. It is in our nature. We are constantly trying to broaden the circumference of our circle of friends. Aristotle understood the importance of friendship, books VIII and IX of the Nicomachean Ethics deal solely with this topic. A modern day definition of a friend can be defined as “one joined to another in intimacy and mutual benevolence independently of sexual or family love”. (Oxford English Dictionary). Aristotle’s view on friendship is much broader than this. His arguments are certainly not flawless. In this essay I will outline what Aristotle said about friendship in the Nichomachaen Ethics and highlight possible

In Book eight and nine of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the variations of friendships that are present in human nature. He further goes into detail on the terms and grounds on forming these friendships. I will be analyzing the different types of friendship discussed in Aristotle’s Ethics and answer the difficulties and obstacles present in trying to achieve the perfect friendship, the friendship based on goodness.

In his time, Aristotle wrote many works on different topics. In arguably one of his most popular works, Nicomachean Ethics, specifically in Book 8, he explores the virtue of friendship. He believes that there are three branches of friendship: that of utility (where two parties derive some benefit from each other), of pleasure (where two parties come together for the sake of pleasure received) and that of the good (where two parties of similar good virtues come together, admire one another for it and help each other strive for more goodness). The last of these types is of the highest form, with Aristotle describing it to be ‘perfect’. It is also naturally permanent unlike the other two, because these friends are not concerned about any other external factor outside of the other’s personality and virtues.

Within book 8 and 9 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he concludes that an excellent friendship is the most choice-worthy good an individual can externally attain (Aristotle 149, 1170a, section 7). However, in chapter 3 of book 8, Aristotle asserts the finest friendships are enduring insofar the individuals are good, and the virtues remain similar. However, his proposal about the similarities of virtues doesn't seem entirely correct since people gradually change over time, but the relationship can continue to be good and the individuals remain close friends. Aristotle would assert that if the virtuous character of the friend were to change, the friendship could potentially dissolve; unless the agent can return their friend to their original state of similarity. This is because his assertion about an enduring friendship requires that the individuals are both good and similar in virtuous behaviour. Nevertheless, this essay aims to argue that friendships are enduring through the means of gaining/building a state of mutual confidence in our friend, rather individuals being similar in virtue.

Aristotle’s exert from Nicomachean Ethics, discusses the importance of friendship in everyday life through classification of different types of friendships people experience. Aristotle argues this belief through giving concrete examples of the three different types of friendships, pleasurable and affectionate, useful, and virtuous. Aristotle bases these beliefs off a community of lawgivers who seek concord, peace or harmony, and try to diminish faction, division amongst states and people. In order to strive to reach this perfect type of friendship without judgment, flaw or faction, Aristotle also explains how justice can be maintained through law. Aristotle states, “When people are friends, they have no need of justice, but when they are just, they need friendship in addition (67).”

When it comes to friendship Aristotle believes without friendship where would not be a life that one would want to live. He also believes that it is a virtue without friendship even a person who is wealthy would not be able to live life. The three concepts that Aristotle focus on are complete friendship, Friendship based on pleasure and friendship based on utility. When it comes to pleasure two people have to come together with common interest of an activity that they both enjoy. For example, one would find more happiness riding a bike with someone then riding a bike alone. A friendship based on utility is a friendship one can benefit out of the relationship. One can benefit from learning a skill while the other is benefiting from gaining experience.

Friendship in itself is virtuous and when you obtain a true friend not only is establishing the relationship itself seeking virtue but obtaining it as well. This is made evident when Aristotle tells us this, “. . .friendship; for it is a kind of virtue, or implies virtue, and it is also necessary for living” (200). However, for a true friendship to be good, the two bodies of the friendship must be good individually in order to obtain virtue through the relationship. “Only the friendship of those who are good, and similar in their goodness, is perfect. For these people, each alike wish good for the other qua good. . .” (205). Good people are friends because they are both good and seek out goodness in their own lives and do this through their friends. “The good are friends for each other’s sake because their bond is goodness” (208). By befriending good people, you are able to absorb the other person 's goodness, which in turn leads to your own virtue and your virtue only adds to the other 's. “For when a good man becomes a friend to another he becomes that other’s good; so each loves his own good, and repays what he receives by wishing the good of the other…” (209).

The 5 basis set up in Aristotle’s Ethics are explained on page 252 and are as followed; “A person who wished for and does what is good or what appears to him to be good for his friends sake, a person who wished for the existence and life of his friend for a friends sake, a person who spends his time in our company, whose desires are the same as ours, and a person who shared sorrow and joy with his friend. An overall message of “one must do well for others in order to be a proper friend”1 can be understood with the five basis of friendship to determine if a person is an ideal friend.

Aristotle dedicates two books to the topic of friendship in Nicomachean Ethics. He discusses three types of friendships; Friendships of utility, pleasure,

Defining friendship is a feeling or an emotion that can be expressed in different kind of ways to one another to feel wanted and important. Friendship can also be defined as a state of being friends, or a friendly feeling. Friends however, are defined as a friend as an ally, supporter or sympathizer. To look for that good friend it’s important to find traits such as being kind, loving, trustworthy, loyal, and honesty. In the book of Nicomachean Ethics, it explains says,” Friendship is a necessary aspect of everyone human’s life, as we are not self sufficient in and of ourselves”, (Irwin, 1999). To have friendship is to have comfort, in times of crisis and depression, a friend is the one that could lift our spirit up.

Friendship based on utility and pleasure become selfishness. Human naturally set up relationships, going from person to person, for personal gain. Aristotle describes these kinds of friendship to be easily dissolved and forgotten, for they are easily split apart. (Aristotle) We can see these types of relationships in businesses or parties, where people greet each other and create small talk, but no real relationship is present. Their motivation and objective is to get what they need and move on as quickly as possible. According to Aristotle, this type of friendship pertains mostly to younger people, who are advantageous, for they “...are at such a time of life pursue not what is pleasant but what is beneficial.” (Aristotle) For example, a regular customer at a pizza restaurant might quickly transition to a newly opened restaurant that provides better service for a cheaper price. Furthermore, utility and pleasure are desires that are influenced by passions and feelings, which are constantly and abruptly changing. Aristotle says that people in this state “...quickly become friends and quickly stop...” and “...love and stop loving quickly...” (Aristotle) These relationships are unstable and unpredictable which might cause more harm than good.

In “ The Nicomachean Ethics” Aristotle identifies three types of friendships: utility, pleasure, and virtue. He adopts a highly moralized view of friendship, believing the best type of friendship is one of virtue. These friendships arise between two good men with similar virtues. Friendships of utility form because of a good or benefit offered in the relationship. A Friendship of pleasure is established due characteristics, such as wit, which makes it pleasurable to be around one another. In both cases the “loved person is loved, but as providing some good or pleasure. Such friendships are easily dissolved, if the parties do not remain like themselves… the love ceases” (144). These friendships of utility and pleasure are short lived, and therefore not the best type of friendship. Friendship formed out of virtue posses the qualities of utility, pleasure, but also of good. These