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    Aristotelean Friendship

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    John Mark Tabuso

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    Aristotelean Friendship

    Uploaded by

    John Mark Tabuso
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    1 views2 pages

    Aristotelean Friendship

    Uploaded by

    John Mark Tabuso

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
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    CHARACTER FRIENDSHIP by ARISTOTLE

    Definition of Friendship: Friends are defined as people who “must be mutually recognized
    as bearing good will and wishing well to each other” (NE VIII.2: 1156a, 4-5).
    Raison d'être or Aim of Friendship: It is both moral and educational. Such friendships are
    experienced not only for the love of character per se, but the loving experience should be in
    the service of learning for mutual character development.
    3 Types of Friendships
    In book 8 of Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle lists three types of friendships:

    Beneficial friendship – Friends derive mutual benefit from the friendship. Friends like each
    other because of the benefit they give each other. In this type, there is mutual exchange so
    long as a friendly activity turns out to be for what is good for themselves, and not for who
    they are.

    Also called Friendships of Utility – It is based on certain advantages or goods that one can
    attain from one’s friend (Ex. Having a friend who has professional connections that one can
    profit from, or a friend who lavishes one with expensive gifts). When the benefit diminishes
    for one or both parties, the friendship fades. Tend to occur more frequently among the old:
    business partners, work colleagues, etc.

    Friendships for pleasure - Friends share a common interest or pursuit that they both enjoy,
    but that may be their only connection with the other person. Happy people do not need
    helpful friends, but pleasant ones do. This type is random, temporary, and sometimes
    premature because it tweaks whenever there is change in the situation.

    Hence, the main motivation for continuing the friendship is the pleasure taken from the
    friend’s company (Ex. Where two friends share a love of history books or enjoy playing
    chess together. More common among young people: high school sports teammates, college
    buddies, summer friends, etc.

    Perfect friendship – It is the highest form of friendship between two people; it is anchored
    on virtue. People like each other in and of themselves in terms of good virtue. This type is a
    true friendship built over time, thus rare and enduring.

    Also called Virtue Friendship or Friendship of the Good – It is based on mutual admiration
    of a friend’s character and sharing of the same values. Friendships take time and intention to
    build and maintain, but they can be enduring and impactful and they may last a lifetime.

    Analysis:
    1. The first two are based on self-interest, while the 3 rd is based on mutual concern of
    each person for the other for his or her own sake.
    2. The first two are situational and, by their nature more fleeting, while the 3 rd is much
    more substantial and very rare.
    Theories of Friendship

     Friendship is built on good will and good wish


    Friendship is a constantly conscious act of having benevolent interest and motive between
    and among persons. According to Aristotle, for a person to be friends with another "it is
    necessary that [they] bear goodwill to each other and wish good things for each other,
    without this escaping their notice."

     Friendship as recognized and reciprocal


    Friendship for Aristotle is equality because of the desire to do good and show affection.

     Friendship is the property of good people.

    It is impossible to be the friends of a large number of people or to everybody at the same


    time.

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