Week 3: Aristotle on Friendship

Arisotle (384-322 BCE) Enormously Influential Originated fields of science complete physics (overturned by Newton) biology (overturned by Darwin) logic (overturned in early 20th century) Scientific psychology Influenced Christian religious and ethical doctrine.

Friendship `Eros' (Grk.): erotic, romantic love, usually involves a sexual component `Philia' (Grk): translated as “friendship”: familial love, includes love of friends, business associates, family relations. Usually, does not involve a sexual or romantic component Not necessarily relationships voluntarily entered into

What is Friendship (Philia)? Is Friendship Necessary for Happiness?

Virtue Nichomachean ethics, book ii

Virtue `Arete' (Grk.): translated as `virtue', `moral character', `excellence' Virtues are states of the soul (dispositions, habits) which enable a person to live a life of happiness, a flourishing life There is close relationship between virtuous activity and friendship.

Central Greek Virtues Prudence Temperance Justice Courage

“Moderation in all things”

Virtue is a Mean Emotion / Situation Excess Mean Deficiency Fear Boldness Courage Cowardace Giving/spending money Wasteful Generosity Stinginess Pleasure Self-indulgence Temperance Insensibility Anger Irrascability Gentleness Apathy Fortunes of others Envy Right Indignation Indifferent Pride Vanity Greatness of soul False humility Self-regard Boastful Self-esteem Self-deprecation Shame Skyness Modesty Shamelessness

Eudamonia `Eudamonia' (Grk): translated as `happiness‘, `flourishing' or `achievement of purpose/function'. The purpose/function of things The purpose/function of an eye is to see well The purpose/function of an acorn is to become an oak tree The purpose/function of man is eudaomonia

Eudamonia is the Only Good of Humans Instrumental goods anything that an action aims at instrumental goods are for something else Intrinsic Goods good we want for their own sake; not for anything else Aristotle: all instrumental goods eventually are for some intrinsic good. Argument shows that humans have one good they aim for everything else is done in order to achieve that

Friendship Nichomacehan Ethics - Book Vii

Three Kinds of Friendship Friendship based on Utility Friendship based on Pleasure Friendship based on Character definition: perfect friendship: mutual affectionate, reciprocal relationship between people of roughly equal status and moral character (excellence or virtue) who wish the other good for the sake of the other person One might love/like someone because he is pleasant, useful or a good person three bases for friendships, depending on which of these qualities binds friends together. When two individuals recognize that the other person is someone of good character, and they spend time with each other, engaged in activities that exercise their virtues, then they form one kind of friendship. If they are equally virtuous, their friendship is perfect. Imperfect: large gap in their moral development (parent and child, or between a husband and a wife), then although their relationship may be based on the other person's good character, it will be imperfect precisely because of their inequality.

Perfect and Imperfect Friendships a genuine friend is someone who loves or likes another person for the sake of that other person.  equal status moral development (virtues) perfect friendship are rare Imperfect Friendship A person who likes or loves you because of the pleasure they receive from you, or the utility they receive from you; they do not like or love you for your own sake Friendships between unequals: status, wealth, moral character Those who wish good things to their friends for the sake of the latter are friends most of all, because they do so because of their friends themselves, and not coincidentally. (1156b9–11) it is necessary that friends bear good will to each other and wish good things for each other, without this escaping their notice, because of [pleasure, utility, goodness]. (1156a4–5) Why? great deal of time with the other person, participating in joint activities and engaging in mutually beneficial behavior; and one cannot cooperate on these close terms with every member of the political community.

Why is friendship a good? Friendship is necessary for being virtuous A virtuous person must have friends A good friendship is always between virtuous people Friendship is necessary for happiness (eudamonia) Needed for prosperity, pleasant life, and development of virtues Education Personal Welfare Political

Friendship and Social Media What sorts of friendships do we have on social media? Does the use of social media lower our chances of having perfect friendship? Is social media changing the nature of friendship?

Friendship and Status Question: Aristotle claims that best/perfect friendships can only occur between people of roughly equal status (in wealth, fame, honor, status) and roughly equal virtues (moral character) Could people of unequal wealth be good friends? Could people of unequal moral character be good friends? Could people of unequal fame, status, honor be good friends?