Muhammad Ali Once Said, “Friendship Is The Hardest Thing

Close friends often have a major impact on the choices that people make. A close

Socrates’ primary motivation for comparing himself to Achilles, the best of all the classic heroes, is to convince the jury of his Achillean heroism. One attribute of a hero according to the events of the Iliad is that one must either kill or be killed in the pursuit of honor. Correspondingly, the Iliad chronicles Achilles’ life and death on the natural path to heroism. Despite the

Friendship, something that we all have but something that we may not really understand the true meaning of it. During the reading Thoreau goes into detail of how friends are really not what we think them to be. We often don’t actually have friends but rather just acquaintances or companions. He goes on to explain who are real friends are and why they are our friends and that no one else really is.

To support Aquinas’ claim that money, honor, fame, power, goods of the body, or pleasure is not required for human happiness, one may cite they share ends for the sake of human beings. That is, their ends are meant only to fulfill human capacities

The Iliad, by Homer, is an epic poem set in the era of the Trojan War, accounting the battle logs during the time of conflict between Agamemnon and Achilles, the text’s tragic protagonist. The heroic outlook on life, in Iliadic terms, is exemplified through the construction of one’s honor through hard work. Being an aspect of the heroic outlook of life, this value is demonstrated through his contribution and dedication to the Trojan War, his experience with neglect from the deities, Achilles’ overall disdain towards Agamemnon, and, lastly, his longingness towards Briseis, his dear lover.

In the Iliad, Homer sees Achilles as a better man than those around him, even though his pride and anger cause a great deal of damage. Achilles puts up with Agamemnon who does not have the same level of skill or integrity. Therefore, the story of Achilles is a story of someone who is working within a society where his integrity and belief systems are above those of the King. At the same time, Achilles also represents the weakness of anger because of the death of Patroclus and the way in which he then goes and kills Hector. However, Holway writes that in the Iliad Homer was depicting honor culture in which having the most strength was considered to be the greatest achievement and virtue. Holway describes Achilles in that he “embodies the dominant paradigm”, suggesting that it is in his skill and strength that righteousness is found.

For instance, the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus is very strong and meaningful which is why it plays such a key role throughout the story. Achilles' personality changes when he is around Patroclus from temperate and arrogant, to more kindhearted and warm. For this reason, Achilles and Patroclus's relationship may be comprehended as a more romantic love rather than as friendship. Homer makes no allegations towards this concept throughout The Iliad, yet the incredibly powerful relationship they share could possibly be love, but it is hard to tell given there is some evidence that present this theory, but that evidence may also be translated as a love between two friends. In Book XVIII of The Iliad, Achilles learns of Patroclus' death, and while talking to his mother about his grief, Achilles tells her "Patroclus, my dearest friend of them all.

Throughout human history, mankind has venerated heroes because they possess the ideals that people strive to achieve themselves. The appearance and importance of heroes in The Iliad form a major part of what makes it such a celebrated tale. The concept of heroism, however, for the ancient Greeks and modern society is quite different. The Greeks viewed heroes as humans usually descended from the gods and in possession of superhuman strength and an aptitude for battle . Achilles clearly fits the above definition and therefore it comes as no surprise that he has historically been viewed as the main hero of the epic. However, the modern day definition of heroism, more than just strength and prowess in battle, encompasses the idea of a moral responsibility: defending one’s people from harm and sacrificing one’s own desires or life for the sake of others. Hector proves to be a great warrior, referred to as ‘man-killing Hector’ by the Achaeans, and therefore can be seen as a hero by the Greek perspective. However that is not the defining characteristic of the Trojan Prince. His character revolves around a sense of moral responsibility towards his people, his culture and his family, and using his power to defend them, sacrificing his own life in the process. The goal of this paper is to prove that Hector, not Achilles, is the true hero of The Iliad.

Aquinas: Friendships consists between beings of certain equality. Before the Incarnation, God was on a level much higher than man was; therefore, there was a great inequality. By nature, there is a common friendship between man and man. The Incarnation made the friendship between God and man become much

Early on it is shown through the use of quotations, that he believes friendships are no longer as “real” as they used to be. One of these quotes is from Aristotle states that a real friend is “A single soul, dwelling in two bodies.” This example, which is given at the very start of the article, is used repeatedly to point out the fact friends were originally viewed as people who were so close they were indistinguishable from one another. Dr. Pattakos uses this quote to use the age old speech trick of repetition to try and ensure the audience understands that this is his ideal view of a friendship.

True friendship, according to Aristotle, is an external reflection of an individual’s internal good, which one must have in order to reach a eudaimonic state. He logically concludes one must be good and participate in good actions in order to reach the highest form of goodness. Therefore, he contends that every reasonable person “wishes for himself [or herself] what is good and what seems so, and does it (for it is the character of a good

Aquinas would probably claim, after an examination of my ethical glasses, that I was en route to finding happiness through God. My protest against His intrinstic place in happiness would appear to him as finding happiness in one of the other, unfulling sources. I disagree. I acknowledge the fact that I may grow to find happiness in God, but I do not think all people should be held to that standard. Upon further reflection on the specific, the nuts and bolts per say, of my glasses, Aquinas might agree with my emphasis on happiness through a good moral life, though the removal of God would be an issue, and on the importance of strong communities. Aquinas observes, in Summa Theologiae, that “happiness is learned in community” (20). The parts of my ethical glasses that Aquinas would debate are the same that I contest in his: the absolute focus on the ultimate goodness and happiness coming from God. I do appreciate his emphasis on finding happiness, through a good, charitable life, but I think one can be just as happy through charity to one’s neighbors. I also admire his awareness of how flawed humans are and the acknowledgement that earthly happinesses are not

Both Aristotle and Aquinas were prominent philosophers who wrote profound works that discussed the concept of the highest human good and how humans can achieve it. In Aristotle’s, Nicomachean Ethics, the highest human good is a state of constantly seeking knowledge as a way of achieving full capacity as a human. The writings of Aquinas are similar to Aristotle, but, in Treatise on Law, he discusses the type and elements of law. His discourse on law ultimately names the highest human good as being in the perfect community with God. Aquinas’s argument supports obedience to law, preexisting inclinations for the good, and a resolution. Aristotle requires that the person constantly seek knowledge and be at work, which can act as a positive force that drives humans to improve themselves.

of their lover or beloved. He gives numerous examples, including that of Alcestis taking herhusband Admetus’ place when he was slated for execution (179b-c), and Achilles avenging Patroclus’ death by Hector even though he knew that Hector’s death would soon befollowed by his own. Achilles did so because he cherished Patroclus’ love and wanted to joinhim in the afterlife (179e-180a). The gifts bestowed by the gods on Alcestis and Achillesshow that “there is no valor more admired by the gods than that which springs from love”(180a-b), and that they “esteem any courage or self-sacrifice displayed in deeds of love”(179d). We stated above that according to Diotima, knowledge and an appreciation of beauty leadsto virtuous acts. Indeed, the knowledge

Showing respect and responding ethically to critical situations was essential on the battlefield. Respecting your elders and exhibiting loyalty to friends, family and the community were important things for maintaining status. In the Iliad, although Patroclus showed absolute loyalty to Achilles, he made an irrational decision. Patroclus disobeyed Achilles’s order and was slain by Hector.