How Friendship Can Not Be Defined Because No One

The philosopher, Aristotle quoted friendship has “A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” Aristotle takes the concept of friendship to a major level. His concept of friendship is assertive and comprehensive. Subsequently, Aristotle divided each concept into three sections or in other words three types of friendship. He first distinguishes and contrasts the three types of friendships. More importantly Aristotle takes into consideration that friendship is a necessity to live, however, it is not only necessary, but also fine. He also characterizes friendship as a virtue and as just. The three different types of friendship correspond to the three objects of love, which are, things that are useful (advantage friendship), things that are pleasant (pleasure friendship), and finally the third, things that are good (good friendship).

There are over six billion people on Earth today. Each of those people has countless relationships, which extend further into an immense network of relations among thousands of individuals. These relations can be romantic, professional, unconditional, mutual, or the strongest of all, friendship. Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more beings. In this sense, the term connotes a relationship which involves mutual knowledge, esteem, and affection and respect along with a degree of rendering service to friends in times of need or crisis. Friends will welcome each other's company and exhibit loyalty towards each other, often to the point of altruism.

Throughout this essay I will be evaluating the contribution of an ethnographic approach to research on friendship. I will be looking at, and including evidence to support both sides of the argument as to whether or not this research method is in fact useful when it comes to gaining knowledge about friendship. As well as evaluating this method, I will compare it against others to reflect on the strengths, weaknesses and the typical data collected. I will look at some of the questions about friendship that have been addressed, and then whether this is the best method or if there are others that could have been more suitable.

From humanity comes friendship, but friendship may not be as one-dimensional and simplistic as the common person believes it to be- it may not stop at the surface level. In David Whyte’s book, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words, he writes on friendship, exposing the true facets of an authentic friendship that oftentimes are overlooked by many people. In Whyte’s opinion, friendship is an eternal experience, or at least an experience in which people take part over an extended period of time. The need for continuous support and forgiveness from and for both parties in a friendship presupposes this prolonged temporality. Naturally, as friendships take constant conscious effort, they require interest

In the reading, “Connectivity And Its Discontents,” by Turkle, the author contends that social media defends people against loneliness. She also states, that it controls the intensity of connections of how people connect with other people, and create ease to communicate and disengage if people wanted to. For example, he states, “We discover the network—the world of connectivity—to be uniquely suited to the overworked and over scheduled life it makes possible. And now we look to the network to defend us against loneliness even as we use it to control the intensity of our connections. Technology makes it easy to communicate when we wish and disengage at will” (190-191). Therefore, people using social media to communicate is good because people might have a busy life style that doesn’t allow them to spend time meeting with their friends. It also provides an outlet against loneliness because some people might not have many friends, and social media allows them to connect easier with people they can’t see through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many other forms of social media. It’s better for people to be open with other people online. People are able to socially interact with other people all over the world using computers, cell phones, and even tablets. The technology today doesn’t limit people from communicating, and web browsing to their hearts content. Social media and the technology

Dealing with emotional challenges alone is limiting. The connectivity made to measure the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. Turkle says, “Our networked life allows us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each

The affectionate and dedicated bond of friendship between two people is much unlike that of any other bond. Friendship differs from the familial tie between two as friendships occur between two people who essentially choose one another by finding similarities either in personality or certain interests. Each person relies on the other for support and encouragement when obstacles become difficult. In ancient literature, the true meaning of friendship is based on the qualities of honor, trust, and encouragement which is shared among the two in order to create a stronger bond. The two friends share a willingness to protect and defend the other more than they will themselves.

Steven Mcgowan R. Morse English 102 29 January 2015 Article Summary In “The Meaning of Friendship in a Social-Networked World,” Alex Pattakos signifies what the meaning of true friendship is. Pattakos uses a quote well known from the great Aristotle that asks, “What is a friend?” and Aristotle then answers it with, “A single soul dwelling in two bodies”(qtd.

In our modern society, the term, ‘friend’, has been commonly used so much that it has almost lost its meaning. According to a standard dictionary, a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard is what you’d call a friend. But that’s not the case according to people these days, especially teens, we call anyone a friend as long as they’ve done something that has benefited us. No really though, we give someone a pencil, they’re your friend now, you save them from getting in trouble, they are your friend now. Which in some cases is a good thing but at other times, you just involuntarily got yourself a friend that you can’t get rid of. So, this paper sums up the three types of friendship that hold

In life there are many changes that can cause a true friendship to go wary such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, new careers, and sickness. However, through each of those events the two must remember to keep the intimacy, the letting down of emotional barriers and the expression of innermost thoughts and feelings, “that which makes friendships thrive must be an enjoyable one” and to “always interact” (Karbo 3). Although psychologists continue to research the formation of friendships the great philosopher Aristotle knew exactly how friendships formed and how the lasted.

“No one would choose a friendless existence on condition of having all the other things in the world (Aristotle).” Humans are social beings, social beyond any other creature in the world. Human interaction is a must for survival. It is in our nature. Aristotle understood this, he even had his own analysis of friendship. In the Nicomachean Ethics written by Aristotle, books VIII and IX are based off of friendship. Today, the definition of a friend is, “A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations (Oxford Dictionary).” To Aristotle, friendship is much more than this. In this research paper, I will evaluate whether or not Aristotle’s analysis of friendship is applicable to the modern world.

“A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.” - Winnie the Pooh. Friendship is one of the things that helps build you as a person. It shapes who you are, and potentially who you will be. Having friends can be crucial to both your mental health and your physical health, and it’s important to know how to maintain friendships and some of the key factors in doing so. “According to a research study of 1500 participants over 10 years conducted by Flinders University, they concluded that people with a large network of friends outlived those with little or no network of friends by 22%”₁. Although friendship is loosely defined as “the state of being friends”, it is better termed in layers. The term ‘friendship’ is not only the state of being friends, but involves multiple complex qualities. Throughout this essay, I hope to explain three of the essential qualities (or “layers”) of maintaining friendships, including trust, respect, and kindness/understanding and why they are so important.

Have you ever had the feeling that someone knows you better than yourself? We’re often surrounded by so-called friends, or acquaintances, as I call them, whereby a connection between people is actually little-to-nonexistent. Whereas a true friend is there for you no matter what, for the marvelous and the dreadful. These are the kind of true friends that will have one’s back. They are loyal, trustworthy, and valuable to have in one’s life. To further understand what the word “friend” means, it’s important to know the history. The word itself, derives from Middle English and means love, attachment, and feeling that of a relative. The word was first notably used in the twelfth century.

Friendships are usually formed in early childhood and most times in those years they can contribute to sculpting a child’s personality, and behavior while filling the need for enjoyable company(). When friendships during early childhood and adolescents are formed they are typically based on the grounds that these peers are available during that time. However in college, friendships are more likely based on common interest, similar personalities, values and beliefs. During young adulthood ages 17-25 interactions between friends are generally personal in nature and involve mutual regard and affection (Hashim & Khodarahimi, 2007).

Friendship plays an incredibly important role in our lives. Friendships provide a sense of belonging and emotional stability (McCornack, pg. 357). Friendship, as defined by McCornack (2016), is a “voluntary interpersonal relationship characterized by intimacy and liking.” Friendship is a key part of life for everyone and no two friendships are alike. Like any interpersonal relationship, all friendships must overcome conflict. Conflicts are created from the use of destructive messages, serial arguments, differences in culture, physical violence, gender differences, and a different understanding in power currencies. With each conflict comes its own set of solutions and ways to change and adapt to ensure a healthy and happy