Chris Jonse Phil 1301- 22980 Moses Aristotle (pp.276- 284) Nicomachean Ethics, Book VIII & IX – “Friendship” Friendship “…is most necessary for our life. For no one would choose to live without friends even if he had all the other goods”. (276) Friendship is clearly necessary and wonderful for it not only binds us together but helps to maintain our way of life and sense of community for “friendship would seem to hold cities together”.(276). Aristotle’s discussion of friendship seems to reveal that we admire friends for those qualities we admire in ourselves. Friendship arises of necessity from love of self. When one loves oneself properly they are able to recognize in others qualities which mirror that which they love in themselves and in turn love themselves more. The love that arises from this intense commonality expresses itself as friendship. Self-love is indeed very valuable: it seems like a negative quality only because we are thinking of the wrong kind of person. We think of self-love as a bad thing because we normally think of it in terms of utility or pleasure. The person who selfishly seeks the benefits of utility will coldheartedly seek out wealth and honor, not caring who is crushed along the way. Aristotle explains that friendship is the act of loving rather than the act of being loved. Friendship is one of the essential components of the good life, and the value of friendship is in having and enjoying it. In Book IX, Aristotle goes on a tangent saying that, if self-love is most important, the truly happy person is not in need of outside help, it would seem that the truly happy person does not need friends at all. “A person finds it pleasant to spend time with himself, and so wishes to do it”. (279) Both the self-lover and the selfless person will look out for

Chris Jonse Phil 1301- 22980 Moses the benefit of others. However, Aristotle’s self-lover will look out for others, recognizing this concern as a noble personal trait, while selfless people do not think of themselves at all. The kindness of a self-lover is given with the understanding that he is noble and superior to the people he is helping. I agree with Aristotle that friendship is an important part of life, for who could imagine themselves always alone without someone, a friend, to confide in. In a perfect world we would only seek friendship because it brings us closer to others, ourselves and protects us. “Justice naturally increases with friendship”. (278) Citizens should not cooperate simply because the laws compel them to. Rather, they should cooperate out of a friendly feeling that comes from sharing their lives and goals with one another. Laws exist only as safeguards for when the appropriate friendly feelings break down.

…friendship is not only necessary, but it is fine”. (277)