He starts by describing the different types of friendships. He speaks of mutually beneficial friendships or friendships where people are only friends because they believe that they can gain something from the friendship. I personally believe that this is not friendship at all.
But then he speaks of the best type of friendship, a type where two people of similar or the same level of virtue come together and are good for the sake of themselves but are naturally beneficial toward others. This is the part of the argument that i would like to delve into. Is aristotle assuming that the only people who are capable of this perfect friendship or even on some level successful friendship people who are on the same level of virtue? Can this argument be reversed and say that the perfect friendships that people have indicate that they are of the same level of virtue?
I happen to disagree with both of these questions in the fact that i believe from both personal experience and first person accounts of other's relationship that good, successful friendships can occur in people who are very different in the level of virtue. I think that this does affect the compatibility of set of people but i think that it can be overcome.
Socrates surprised me with the mentioning of friendship. The description of the different types of friendships brought a whole knew light to the book, as well. I don't really agree with what he had to say, but it was definitely an interesting book to read.
ReplyDeleteAristotle's idea of a friend for utility was very interesting... After reading this book I thought the individual was simply a "bad" friend but never thought maybe this wasn't friendship at all. I agree with you and don't think a friend for utility is much of a friend at all.
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