Aristotle first addresses the topic of friendship in the first chapter of Book VIII of Nicomachean Ethics by establishing its importance claiming that “it is most necessary for our life. For no one would choose to live without friends” (119). Having discussed virtues in the previous chapter, Aristotle links his definition of friendship to the latter topic claiming that friendship is the act of loving by bonding through mutual respect and virtue. Aristotle proves his argument on the nature and purpose of friendship by discussing the different types of friendships, equality in friendship and the relationship between how we love ourselves and how we love others in friendship.
Aristotle defines friendship through Chapter VIII and IX as the …show more content…
In other words friendship consists of a mutual feeling of goodwill between two people. Aristotle claims there are three key features in friendship: utility, pleasure, and goodness. Friendship that consists of utility consists in the mutual benefits between both people in the friendship. The second quality of friendship is pleasure. This feature of friendship claims that both people are drawn to the other’s pleasant qualities. Both friendship based on utility and pleasure are only temporary since one’s person pleasures and utility “does not remain the same, but is different at different times” (121). Goodness is the final quality of friendship and is more long lasting as it involves the admiration of one another’s goodness and helps one another strive for goodness. When speaking on friendship, Aristotle argues that the idea of equality is important in any type of friendship. One sense of friendship that is mentioned is the relationship between father and son, and its inequality. Aristotle argues that “whenever children accord to their parents what they must accord to those who gave them birth” (127). In these types of friendships such as the relationship between a parent and his/her child, the subject …show more content…
Aristotle argues that friendship is a means to other parts of the human good, as it helps us acquire and express virtue. Friendship is a necessity to human nature because a virtuous person needs to share his virtues, wealth, and honors with others in order to reach the highest level of happiness. One cannot be happy without personal relationships achieved through friendships. Aristotle claims “for without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods” (119), and “friendships seems too to hold states together” (119) , meaning that friendship does not only affect one personally but having friendships is a matter of life and death and the overall flow, and balance of the state. Friendship is necessary not only because it determines the happiness of one soul but the happiness of every soul
Aristotle defines friendship through Chapter VIII and IX as the …show more content…
In other words friendship consists of a mutual feeling of goodwill between two people. Aristotle claims there are three key features in friendship: utility, pleasure, and goodness. Friendship that consists of utility consists in the mutual benefits between both people in the friendship. The second quality of friendship is pleasure. This feature of friendship claims that both people are drawn to the other’s pleasant qualities. Both friendship based on utility and pleasure are only temporary since one’s person pleasures and utility “does not remain the same, but is different at different times” (121). Goodness is the final quality of friendship and is more long lasting as it involves the admiration of one another’s goodness and helps one another strive for goodness. When speaking on friendship, Aristotle argues that the idea of equality is important in any type of friendship. One sense of friendship that is mentioned is the relationship between father and son, and its inequality. Aristotle argues that “whenever children accord to their parents what they must accord to those who gave them birth” (127). In these types of friendships such as the relationship between a parent and his/her child, the subject …show more content…
Aristotle argues that friendship is a means to other parts of the human good, as it helps us acquire and express virtue. Friendship is a necessity to human nature because a virtuous person needs to share his virtues, wealth, and honors with others in order to reach the highest level of happiness. One cannot be happy without personal relationships achieved through friendships. Aristotle claims “for without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods” (119), and “friendships seems too to hold states together” (119) , meaning that friendship does not only affect one personally but having friendships is a matter of life and death and the overall flow, and balance of the state. Friendship is necessary not only because it determines the happiness of one soul but the happiness of every soul