Lecture Notes: Aristotle - God and the Good Life

The Nature of Friendship (Book VIII of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics)

Introduction

• Friendship as a Virtue: Friendship is essential for a fulfilling life.
• Even the wealthy and powerful need friends for beneficence and security.
• Friendship is a refuge in misfortune and aids in moral and practical activities.
• Friendship holds societies together more than justice.

Definitions and Debates

• Friendship as Likeness: Some believe similarity leads to friendship; others argue opposites attract.
• Objective of Love: Love revolves around the good, pleasant, or useful.
• Reciprocity: Friendship involves mutual goodwill.

Three Kinds of Friendship

1. Friendship of Utility

• Based on mutual benefit; not permanent.
• Common among older people and those seeking utility.

2. Friendship of Pleasure

• Centers around mutual pleasure.
• Common among young people; changes quickly.

3. Perfect Friendship

• Based on goodness and virtue.
• Rare, requires time and familiarity.
• Lasts as long as both parties are virtuous.

Sharing Life

• Friendship involves shared life activities.
• Absence affects the activity of friendship but not its essence.
• Sour and elderly people have difficulty forming friendships.

Quantity vs. Quality

• Perfect friendship is limited to few due to its nature.
• Friendships for utility or pleasure can be numerous.

Authority and Equality

• Authority figures have friends for utility or pleasure.
• Unequal friendships exist (e.g., parent-child, ruler-subject).
• Love in unequal friendships should be proportional.

Justice and Politics

• Friendships are integral to justice.
• Political and community structures reflect types of friendships.
• Monarchy, aristocracy, and timocracy have parallels in family and community roles.

Associations

• Friendships stem from shared upbringing, age, or familial connections.
• Natural friendship exists between husband and wife.

Conclusion

• Three types of friendship: utility, pleasure, virtue.
• Equality and proportionality are crucial in friendships.
• Friendships of virtue are least prone to conflict.
• Utility friendships often lead to dissatisfaction and complaints.