Taking a Look at Nicomachean Ethics

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

Friendship, according to Aristotle there are 3 definitions of friendship. Friendship of Utility, “thus friends whose affection is based on utility do not love each other in themselves, but in so far as some benefit accrues to them from each other.” Friendship of Pleasure, “And similarly with those whose friendship is based on pleasure: for instance, we enjoy the society of witty people not because of what they are in themselves, but because they are agreeable to us.” Friendship of the Good. “The perfect form of friendship is that between the good, and those who resemble each other in virtue. For these friends wish each alike the other’s good in respect of their goodness, and they are good in themselves; but it is those who wish the good of their friends for their friends’ sake who are friends in the fullest sense, since they love each other for themselves and not accidentally. Hence the

Throughout this Book 1, the discussion digresses multiple times to explore the method by which the topic will be examined. Realising that concepts such as happiness are subjective, he establishes in the third Chapter that the fruits of the discussion will be satisfactory so long as it holds true universally. He also considers in Chapter four whether the discussion should originate from the principles, or from our experiences, and suggests that we should being from things known and immediate to us, which seems to be a logical choice as the discussions as a whole focus on what a man should do in order to act according to virtue in order to become good and attain happiness. In addition, the sixth Chapter is devoted to criticism of the theory of Forms. Since good can exist in so many different ways, but are undoubtedly good, Aristotle argues that there is no common idea governing it. He also denies the existence of separate Forms that are merely mimicked by what we perceive, since a thing and the Thing Itself has the same

In a healthy relationship, both individuals should put the needs of the other before their own. Additionally there should be a mutual love and respect between the partners. Trust, good communication, and happiness are all apart of the foundation of a strong relationship. Without these aspects, the relationship may not be healthy or mutual. According to Aristotle, there are three different kinds of friendships, which can also apply to romantic relationships. First there is the friendship of utility: a friendship that exists when one person is or has something that is useful to the other. Next, there is the level of pleasure, which is a relationship between two people who enjoy spending time with the other. Lastly, a relationship between people

I believe Cicero position in the discussion about friendship is stronger than Aristotle’s position because Cicero believes friendship exists between two people, he also went deep in talking about friendship, the limits of friendship, how loyalty is important in friendship, the way friendships get stronger and older, which is also talked about the golden rule of friendship which he stated in section nineteen “put yourself on a level with your friends”. He also talked about the cause of friendship which he stated in section eleven that a belief in a man’s virtue is the original cause of friendship that friendship can hardly remain if virtue be abandon. By this , he made me understand 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

Friendships of virtue, unlike friendships of utility and pleasure, which can include a circle of friends, are strictly one on one relationships. These types of friendships can only occur between two people of the same virtues and both persons have to be virtuous. One can only become virtuous through wisdom and age. Therefore friendships of virtue are not found among young people. It is a relationship of mutual respect and love. The persons in this type of relationship are not in it because they gain something from the relationship, they are not friends because

Friendship that is based off of good/virtue is the highest form of friendship and friendship based off of good/virtue are people who “wish good things for their friends for their own sake are friends most of all, since they are that way for themselves and not incidentally; so the friendship of these people lasts as long as they are good, and virtue is enduring. And each of them is good simply and good for his friend, since good people are both good simply and beneficial to one another” (Aristotle 147). Friendship bases off of utility and pleasure are usually short-lived friendships, while friendship based off of good/virtue are long-lived friendships. Then in book nine Aristotle talks about how your relationship with yourself affects your friendships with others. According to Aristotle one must have self-love in order to have good friendships.

I personally believe that Aristotle covered all aspects of friendship because you have to think hard and deep about what he is trying to get across. He is not trying to tell us we should do this and that for a certain type of bond, but he is telling us what this type of friendship will be like and what we should expect to happen and to at least try and aim for this goal. He is speaking in past tense rather than present because he does not want it to seem as if he is telling us what to do like we have no choice but to follow what he is saying. For example when he says that our highest goal is happiness, I agree with that because what mortal would just

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). True friendships are a rarity in today's culture. In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, he delves into what a "true" or "complete" friendship should be. The friendship of David and Jonathan in the Old Testament lines up with Aristotle's criteria for an ideal and complete and n true friendship. David and Jonathan’s friendship meets Aristotle’s criteria that friends must be good and alike in virtue, they should be equal, and they must love each other for their own sake.

Aristotle states that in order to be friends with someone there has to be a mutual goodwill. Does this mean that friendships of goodness is the only true kind of friendship? Or can you be friends with someone for utility or pleasure? Using Aristotle's theory on friendships in the book Nicomachean Ethics can help answer this question. Friendships of utility is when you only care about being someones friend because you want to get something out of it.

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.

Imagine the friends one associates with in high school or college, those friends are always either inviting you to party or making you laugh, that friendship would be considered one of pleasure. Now, the friendship of virtue, in Aristotle’s theory, is one where both individuals are equal to one another in all aspects. If both are equal there is nothing to gain from one another. Both parties respect for each other, care for one another, and have trust in the other person. To Aristotle, the excellent person is related to his friend in the same way as he is related to himself, since, a friend is another self; and therefore, just as his own

Aristotle dedicates two books to the topic of friendship in Nicomachean Ethics. For Aristotle, friendship is essential for achieving eudaimonia (Happiness). He discusses three types of friendships; friendships of utility, pleasure, and complete (or true) friendship. Unlike friendships of utility and pleasure, complete friendships are not self-centered. Friendship based on utility and pleasure is not lasting; when there is no longer pleasure or usefulness, the friendship ceases.

In the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Donald Borchert explains Aristotle’s perspective of friendship. Borchert says that Aristotle believed that, “[friendship] is a composite of virtuous activity and external goods; chief among those external goods is a relational good of friendship; or Philia” (Borchert, 749). This Philia is a “mutually acknowledged reciprocation of affection and good will” (749). Because humans are social beings, Borchert says that they “contemplate best in the company of others” (749). He says that, for an