Books eight and nine of Nicomachean Ethics begin with
evaluating what makes a relationship a friendship. The most prominent quality
is a friend wishes good will for the sake of the other. Also, the good will
must be mutually recognized and reciprocated. This good will is closely tied to
the practice of moral virtues. Aristotle identifies three relationships between
friends. The first two, friendships of utility and pleasure, are short lived
and exist for the purpose of an exchange between the friends. They happen
accidentally arising from a need that the involved parties can meet. This is
not a perfect friendship, but is merely a shadow reflecting the relationship
between true friends. A perfect friendship is based on each person’s qualities
of excellence. It is enduring because its foundation is set in characteristics
that do not change.
Within a perfect friendship, the benefits
of a utility or pleasure friendship can also be present. Because true friends
love for the sake of the other, they will naturally be inclined to offer benefits
like in an associations of utility. Also, out of love for the goodness of the
person, they will receive pleasure from each other as well. Aristotle describes
the importance of friends as such: “friends help young men avoid error; to
older people they give the care and help needed to supplement the failing
powers of action which infirmity brings in its train; and to those in their
prime they give the opportunity to preform noble actions.” In
this way, friends contribute to eudaimonia not just from the benefits and
pleasure received, but also because, like in the polis, it provides a structure
under which to practice virtuous actions.
I am working on the topic of friendship right now! Your post is really helpful me to refresh my memory again~Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteGood link with friendship and the polis
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to Aristotle and Friendship, there isn't much room to disagree. I mean, he literally wrote the book(s) on what friendship is and how to improve it. However, I don't agree with something in this quote. It says, "This is not a perfect friendship, but is merely a shadow reflecting the relationship between true friends." I argue that the three types of friendship (utility, pleasure, and value) are perfect within themselves because they have distinct and separate purposes. Utility and Pleasure are a part of the Value friendship, but I don't think a Utility friendship is a lesser form of a Value friendship because I'm using different standards to judge the Utility friendship.
ReplyDeleteThe three types of friendship can work together but they can also be mutually exclusive.