Aristotle and Friendships

Term Paper # 102491

Communication > Interpersonal
Philosophy > Ancient Greek
Philosophy > Ethics

This paper analyzes the highest level of friendship that induces Aristotle's idea of friendship as a virtue in Nichomachean Ethics.

1,660 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes the three different tiers of friendship in Aristotle's philosophy: friendships of utility, pleasure and of the good. The paper discusses Aristotle's argument that a friendship "of the good" provides a foundation for eudemonia (the happiest life). The paper explains how this level of friendship strives to discover the greatest good or happiness between friends, rather than seeking immediate gratification through superficial relationships.

From the Paper:

"For Aristotle, the greatest good of life comes from having a friendship that can be purified from immoral or materialistic causation. The importance of friends is one of the major virtues of life that must be taken into account when living for eudemonia or for the greater good of life in Book VIII:
"After what we have said, a discussion of friendship would naturally follow, since it is a virtue or implies virtue, and is besides most necessary with a view to living. For without friends no one would choose to live (Aristotle para.1)"

Sample of Sources Used:

Allen, Reginald. Greek Philosophy: From Thales to Aristotle. New York/London: Free Press, 1991.
Aristotle. "Nichomachean Ethics." 2007. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 13 March, 2007. < http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html>
Whiting, Jim. Aristotle. New York: Mitchell Lane, 2006.
Woodfin, Rupert. Introducing Aristotle. New York: Totem, 2006.