Aristotle claimed that the concept of possessing good in life was necessary for happiness: “some are necessary conditions while others are naturally useful and cooperative as instruments.” (Nicomachean Ethics 1099b28-29). He further explains that “having friends seems to be the greatest external good” (Nicomachean Ethics 9.9.1169b10-11). Friendship can be used to achieve this external good for it is deemed a virtuous action which is considered necessary for achieving the desired happiness that Aristotle speaks of throughout the all the books of the Nicomachean Ethics because “The solitary person’s life is hard, since it is not easy for him to be continually active all by himself; but in relation to others and in their company it is easier”
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Friendship also serves to bring comfort to a happy life for Aristotle expresses that is that when someone is suffering from hard times or misfortunes, they cannot function well enough on their own to overcome their own hardships that they are facing (Nicomachean Ethics 8.8.1159b7-8). One final benefit of possessing friendship is that friends will provide help when one is enduring hardships. Aristotle states that during tough times: “Seeing one’s friends is itself pleasant… and a friend’s presence becomes a kind of protection against pain… both by his appearance and by what he says, if he is resourceful, since he knows his friend’s character and what brings him pleasure or pain” (Nicomachean Ethics 9.11.1171b1-4). Therefore, the assistance friends can provide allows us humans to be resilient when facing misfortune and to continue living a happy life and will lead us to living a …show more content…
S. Lewis makes it well-known in The Four Loves that friendship doesn’t serve humans in for two reasons. According to his text, the first reason is that friendship is not necessary for the purpose of survival (Lewis 103). By this he means that it is not needed for the production of continuing the human race; neither is it necessary things such as pleasure, sleep, food or drink. However, because friendship to Lewis serves no purpose for survival doesn’t mean that friendship is worthless. Rather, “it is one of those things which give value to survival” (Lewis 103). This statement notes that while humans need to food and drink to live, and while society needs to continue by producing offspring, it only intends to give pleasure to the unnecessary things in life such as art, philosophy and friendship (Lewis 103) and make it worth living and earthly existence. C.S. Lewis makes it clear then that since friendship is “least biological of our loves” (Lewis 94) then “both the individual and the community can survive without it” (Lewis 94). The second reason for insignificance of friendship, according to C. S. Lewis, is the unnecessary disposition that friendship possesses, for which it will result in dire
Friendship also serves to bring comfort to a happy life for Aristotle expresses that is that when someone is suffering from hard times or misfortunes, they cannot function well enough on their own to overcome their own hardships that they are facing (Nicomachean Ethics 8.8.1159b7-8). One final benefit of possessing friendship is that friends will provide help when one is enduring hardships. Aristotle states that during tough times: “Seeing one’s friends is itself pleasant… and a friend’s presence becomes a kind of protection against pain… both by his appearance and by what he says, if he is resourceful, since he knows his friend’s character and what brings him pleasure or pain” (Nicomachean Ethics 9.11.1171b1-4). Therefore, the assistance friends can provide allows us humans to be resilient when facing misfortune and to continue living a happy life and will lead us to living a …show more content…
S. Lewis makes it well-known in The Four Loves that friendship doesn’t serve humans in for two reasons. According to his text, the first reason is that friendship is not necessary for the purpose of survival (Lewis 103). By this he means that it is not needed for the production of continuing the human race; neither is it necessary things such as pleasure, sleep, food or drink. However, because friendship to Lewis serves no purpose for survival doesn’t mean that friendship is worthless. Rather, “it is one of those things which give value to survival” (Lewis 103). This statement notes that while humans need to food and drink to live, and while society needs to continue by producing offspring, it only intends to give pleasure to the unnecessary things in life such as art, philosophy and friendship (Lewis 103) and make it worth living and earthly existence. C.S. Lewis makes it clear then that since friendship is “least biological of our loves” (Lewis 94) then “both the individual and the community can survive without it” (Lewis 94). The second reason for insignificance of friendship, according to C. S. Lewis, is the unnecessary disposition that friendship possesses, for which it will result in dire