Analysis Of Aristotle's Account Of Friendship

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Recommended: Aristotle's concept of imperfect friendship

Patrick Nadzadi
December 11, 2014
PHIL 324
Ancient Greek Philosophy
Dr. Rubenstein
Aristotle’s Account of Friendship Aristotle first explains what all entail friendship. That it is a feeling similar to that of necessity and a good overall pleasure-filled feeling, though some like me may disagree on this. Friendship is that which consists of a given mutual feelings towards one another. These feelings would consist of goodwill. Then Aristotle continues on to the three kinds of friendship. The first kind of friendship is that being one based on utility. At this point this is where both people coming together would gain some sort of benefit from one another. The second kind of friendship is one that is based on pleasure. This is where both people …show more content…

1) I on the other hand think people can survive without friendship if that is what they want. What I am trying to get across is that friendship is a choice, you can choose to be in one of the three types friendship or you can opt to live without friendship. The reason why I feel friendship is a choice rather than a necessary achievement is due to the fact that some people are more drawn to living alone, and the fact that some people should not have friendship because they misuse it. “Parent seems by nature to feel it for offspring and offspring for parent, not only among men but among birds and among most animals.” (Aristotle, 2014, Pg. 1) Aristotle does point out that men just as animals need friendship of some sort, but there are animals that live alone. Take a bear for example, they go off on their own and live alone till they find a mate and begin the Third kind of friendship expressed by Aristotle. Yes, in the end they find friendship but it shows that animals and men are capable of living alone and providing for themselves until they make the choice of entering a friendship of some sort. People are capable of moving into he wilderness and living on their own, people are creatures of choice. We make choices everyday and if one of those choices is to move into the wilderness and never form a friendship, that person would be able to adapt to that lifestyle because that is one of the greatest defense mechanisms a human

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