Nicomachean Ethics Book VIII

Summary

Friendship according to Aristotle is Impressive and a necessity but its detailed nature is highly argued (Ross, 1999).  According to Aristotle friendship entails a mutual sensation of a good will that exists between two individuals (Ross, 1999).  Friendship exists in three kinds where the first kind is grounded on utility where the involved parties get benefits from each other.  The second friendship kind is grounded on pleasure where the individuals are brought together by pleasant qualities, good looks or there are pleasant aspects.  The third kind is grounded on goodness where the partners are in admiration of the other’s goodness and are in association in achieving greater good (Ross, 1999).

The first friendships kinds can be termed as accidental because the major aspect of influence is pleasure as well as utility and cannot be considered as essential in the context of friendship (Ross, 1999).  These forms of friendships can additionally be regarded as short-term as the needs and pleasure preferences are bound to change with time. On the other hand goodness can be termed as a quality that is enduring and may last longer (Ross, 1999).  This kind of friendship is a rare occurrence based on the fact that the connection is not generally so attractive.  This therefore justifies the argument generated by Aristotle that bad person’s forms friendships that are bounded by pleasure as well as utility while good persons are connected to provide care to each other (Ross, 1999).

According to Aristotle friendship is a consistent of exchanges that are equal but some relationships are inexistence with unequal sharing (Ross, 1999).  Most persons are in support of the tendency of being lover as loving is not favorable. This is mainly because they want to be associated with honor.  Friendship can only live when there is enough love between the involved persons (Ross, 1999).

 

 

      References

Ross W.D. (1999).  Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics. Batoche Books, Kitchener.