Acts of a Friend
Everyone in life develops at least one friendship in their lifetime, some stronger than others. In some cases a friend might ask for a favor that would be considered immoral. Cicero and Montaigne express their opinions toward this situation and how a true friend would act through the story of Blossius and Tiberius Gracchus. Both come to the same conclusion but they have different reasons as to why they hold that position.
The story of Blossius and Tiberius Gracchus is that Blossius is asked if he would burn down the capital for his friend Gracchus. He responds that he would do it for him if he had asked. Cicero and Montaigne may have different views of friendships, but they both came to the similar conclusion, that Blossius answer to Tiberius Gracchus query was a response as a friend. Both
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In Cicero 's argument, he believes that because your friend had the audacity to ask a good friend a favor that is wicked, makes the person who asked an unvirtuous man. If a friend were to accept the favor, the whole virtue of the friendship would be questions, but if a friend denies another friend a favor he would be breaking the laws of friendship, “we must not ask wrongful things, nor do them, if we are asked to. For if a man should declare that he has done a thing of this kind for a friend’s sake, the excuse in ordinary affairs, and especially so if the act was treasonable” (Cicero, 95). Besides virtue, which plays a large role in his argument, a minor quality is the trust within the relationship.I discovered that it is not only about asking the proper questions and favors, but always have faith in your friend that they will see the good in your acts. What I noticed when comparing the two readings, Cicero refers to the virtue of the friendship more than
The value attributed to the first virtue, wisdom, whose essence lay in “the perception of truth and with ingenuity,” concerns the comprehension of the nature of justice (7). In fact, Cicero asserts, within the public sphere, “unless learning is accompanied by the virtue that consists...
Friendship can be debated as both a blessing and a curse; as a necessary part of life to be happy or an unnecessary use of time. Friends can be a source of joy and support, they can be a constant stress and something that brings us down, or anywhere in between. In Book 9 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses to great lengths what friendship is and how we should go about these relationships. In the short story “Melvin in the Sixth Grade” by Dana Johnson, we see the main character Avery’s struggle to find herself and also find friendship, as well as Melvin’s rejection of the notion that one must have friends.
To be accepted and listened to, Anthony starts his speech out by calling the citizens “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears” (3.2.82). He starts out by calling the people “friends” to make them feel comfortable and responsive, opposed to starting out on a more negative tone and calling them by their nationality. This way the audience automatically feels a closer connection to Anthony. Juxtaposition between the two speeches is shown to reveal Anthony’s effectiveness by addressing them as friends. When someone is called a “friend” the person may feel connected or close to that person causing them to listen and eventually agree with the other person.
Aristotle argues that friendship is a vital part of life. It serves not only as a means to bond individuals together, but also a necessity in achieving overall happiness. Aristotle comments on the various types of friendships that exist, and the role they each play in society. He explains three overarching types; utility, pleasure, and complete friendship. Yet, with family, friendship is different than it is with companionship. As Aristotle states in his piece, Nicomachean Ethics on friendship in families, “they all seem to depend on paternal friendship” (Aristotle, 1161b18). In The Aeneid, Aeneas and Anchises’ relationship, perfectly embodies this. The father son bond does not distinctly resemble one of the three types, rather it is a friendship in of itself; a paternal friendship.
Aristotle presents his view of the mutual desire for good in others, or Friendship in his work, The Nicomachean Ethics. He asserts that friendship comes in three types, Virtue Friendship, Use Friendship, and Pleasure Friendship. He distinguishes Virtue Friendship as the perfect friendship, leaving Use Friendship and Pleasure friendship as deficient friendships. C.S. Lewis presents his view of friendship, which is motivated by appreciation love, in his book The Four Loves in a manner seeming to correspond to Aristotle’s concept of Virtue Friendship. Lewis also presents his perception of Companionship, which seems to correspond to Aristotle’s notion of Use and Pleasure Friendships. Lewis presents a more modern and seemingly accurate rehabilitation
As we regained consciousness one by one, we found ourselves on a deserted island. After gathering all the food and supplies we could find, it was decided that certain rules should be enacted so we may live together civilly. We need to maintain our politeness and courtesy as we do not know how long we may be stranded on the island. To preserve what we have left, the first rule that should be enacted must benefit the group as a whole. The rule to have every able bodied individual work to benefit the group. That means that a person must work at gather food, water, build shelter, and any other tasks that are required. This should be the most important rule as it will maintain order and will provide justice in our group.
The assumptions of Cicero can be noticed when one inspects his view of the ideal
Friendship is a wonderful part of life, but unfortunately, it can be used to deceive. It is easy to manipulate, but true friendship cannot be defeated, even after death. This element could well be the very thing that sealed the fate of Julius Caesar. Brutus, Cassius, and all the other conspirators knew that they could use friendship to their advantage and Caesar's disadvantage. The conspirators used friendship as a cover to blind Caesar from the truth, just as a hunter uses camouflage to keep the animals from seeing what he is up to.
Aristotle wrote on many subjects in his lifetime but one of the virtues that he examines more extensively is friendship. Aristotle believes that there are three different kinds of friendship: utility, pleasure, and virtuous friendships. He also argues that a real friendship should be highly valued because it is a complete virtue and he believes it to be greater than honor and justice. Aristotle suggests that human’s love of utility and pleasure is the only reason why the first two types of friendships exist. Aristotle also argues that humans only set up these types of relationships for personal gain. But when he speaks of the virtuous friendships, Aristotle states that it is one of the greatest attainments one can achieve.
Aristotle views friendship as “a virtue, or involves virtue” (1155a5) which is necessary for every human being and can hold cities together. A friendship is lovable (either good, pleasant, or useful) and mutual. Based on different motivations of being friends with one another, people experience different categories of friendship; it involves seeking of utility, pleasure, and goodness. The love between friends is reciprocated and friends are aware of it. The difference is that friends who love each other for goodness stand at the highest level of friendship which is called the complete friendship. For this paper I would like to discuss three kinds of friendship first, and use Aristotle’s idea of self-love to demonstrate why I think his reasons for
Being stabbed in the back hurts, and hurts more when it’s your best friend. Julius Caesar’s best friend, Brutus, and other conspirators assassinate him; in the play Julius Caesar. While some could argue Brutus was a patriot. By claiming his dastardly acts were for Rome; his actions seem more patriotic, and sympathetic. However, he was quick to believe his friend was a threat that needed to be dissolved. Moreover, his impulsive decisions illustrate how he could be seen as a betrayer. Brutus was a betrayer whose actions show how people are willing to betray their friend, for their own self-serving reasons.
Friendship started out to be about making yourself look better and who had the most money. Act 1 Scene 1 page 5 Hortensio says; “But wait don’t go just yet, signior Gremio. I know we’ve never exactly been allies, but it might be in both our interests, if you think about it, to put our heads together about one particular thing,” Some friendships today that are genuine are about being a person that can be depended on and loving the other person. However when friendships aren’t genuine most people are just trying to better themselves and this is seen in 10 things I hate about you with Bianca and how her friend only wanted to be friends with her to get to
Throughout, William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, the theme of friendship would prove to be a very delicate and manipulative element. This element would be the very entity that would seal Julius Caesar's fate. Brutus, Decius, and all the other conspirators would use this to their power, and to Julius's weakness. Friendship was used as a cover to blind Julius from the truth, from the plots against him. Flattery along with manipulation was used as a way of persuasion to soothe any feelings of doubt or weariness. These essentials would gain trust, the key to all friendships. This trust would be lost and transform into betrayal. Even though Caesar was plotted against and murdered by the likes of Brutus and Cassius, friendship still proved a strong theme because it would cloke the conspirators intentions. Julius was vulnerable to the power of friendship and was blinded by the shrewd ways of Decius, Brutus, and all the other conspirators.
The story of the Tragedy of Julius Caesar unfolds the true meaning behind friendship, Most people can agree that friendship is a difficult relationship to attain to people who are boastful, or even scandalous. The friendships in Julius Caesar represent the attitudes, and emotions the carry on in a circle of friends. Julius Caesar was a temporary Roman dictator in the time of 44 B.C. He had perpetuous intentions during his rule of Rome, but his fellow conspirators believed otherwise. Julius Caesar’s life quickly turns into turmoil when he discovers his fate from an oracle, and then it resulted in his death; murdered by his best friend, and conspirators. Was this murder in the name of love, or jealousylove, ambition, and jealousy. Friendships
In The Confessions, Augustine defines what true friendship is with the help of friendships of his past, whether good or bad, to show what friendship is and is not. In Book IV, Augustine writes, “Friendship is genuine only when you bind fast together people who cleave to you through the charity poured abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (The Confessions, Book IV, paragraph 7). To Augustine, true friendships are those brought and held together by God. Without God, there cannot be true friendship, and this is made evident by the comparison of two of Augustine’s friendships in his life. Through the friendships of an unnamed childhood friend and Nebridius, the reader sees a full transformation of Augustine’s friendships.