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Aristotle and generosity
Aristotle On Friendships
Aristotle On Friendships
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“The man who is to be happy will therefore need virtuous friends”
(Aristotle 4). Aristotle is saying that in order for someone to be
happy you must have not only friends, but virtuous friends. Virtuous
friends are your true friends. What is true friendship? How do you
know when someone is not only your friend, but your true friend? Some
may say that a true friend is loyal, honest, and cares for you,
someone who would die for you. Some may agree with Aristotle's view
of friendship. He classifies friendship into three categories:
friendship for utility, pleasure, or virtue. Aristotle says a virtuous
friendship is when you wish good things for the other person. Is this
all that constitutes a true friendship or is there more to it? What
exactly is a virtuous person? For Aristotle virtue is expressed in
action. Virtuous actions are about giving what one deserves. “a
virtuous friend seems to be naturally desirable for a virtuous man.
For that which is good by nature, we have said, is for the virtuous
man good and pleasant in itself” (Aristotle 3). It is a matter of
thinking and choosing what is good for the other person. . If two
people were to have a virtuous friendship then they would not be good
to each other merely out of habit. One must not look for rewards or
keep a tally of points; instead one must give of themselves freely
without wanting anything in return. “The good man acts for honour's
sake, and the more so the better he is, and acts for his friend's
sake, and sacrifices his own interest” (Aristotle 1).
Aristotle also explains that friendships of utility and pleasu...
... middle of paper ...
... of friendship in a more spiritual manner. Perhaps we
should begin to reintroduce into our dialog other words that might
describe the different levels of relationships we have, such as
"acquaintance," or the notion that we might be "familiar" with a
person. At the very least perhaps we should consider whether the term
friendship should be spent so easily and whether we should consider it
such an abundant commodity. Friendships should take time. As
Aristotle said, "though the wish for friendship comes quickly,
friendship does not" (1155a) Discovering the soul or core of another
person is one of the ultimate goals of friendship. We must remember
that this takes time. We must consider the metaphor of one another as
onions with many layers, the peeling back of which should be done
carefully and may even cause some tears.
1) Sickness is different from disease as sickness refers to a social or cultural concept of a disease/illness while disease is the biological definition of it. An example of an sickness is “Qaug dab peg” a Hmong sickness that occurs when the soul leaves the body resulting in seizures. An example of a disease is epilepsy a neurological condition that causes the body to have random seizures. Both examples are of the same disease, but one is how the culture views it while the other is how biology views it.
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.
Anne Fadiman’s "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" Critical Analysis: Understanding Religion and Cultural Conflicts and how it Impacts the Society
Aristotle regards Virtue Friendship as perfect. He does not comment on the potential negatives, whereas Lewis more realistically presents possible dangers of his highest form of friendship. Lewis believes that the birth of friendship proper from companionship reveals friendship’s dark and idolatrous side. Lewis comments on the sense of inclusiveness between friends that can create an “us/them” tension that can be potentially dangerous. He believes there is danger in the sense that a partial indifference or deafness to the voices of the outside world may develop and morph into dangerous perversions of
Late one evening, curled up in her nest, Harriet lay thoughtfully reading the last of Aristotle’s model of friendships: the perfect friendship. Though no secret to Harriet, Aristotle presents the idea that it is the most desirable and genuine of the three forms. The foundation of this friendship is not trivial, but instead the relationship is built on a common good and virtuous nature. As Aristotle explains, “those who love for the sake of utility love for the sake of what is good for themselves, and those who love for the sake of pleasure do so for the sake of what is pleasant to themselves.” Aristotle continues, “Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good, and alike in virtue; for those wish well alike to each other qua good, and they are good in themselves.” (concluding sentence or two...)
Peoples’ personal life experiences usually affect the topic of their work. John Keats was a famous poet who grew up in an idyllic life until tragedy continuously stroked until his death at twenty-five years old. At eight years old, his father died in a tragic riding accident. Six years later, his mother died of tuberculosis (TB). In the midst of his troubles, his teacher strongly encouraged his reading and literacy ambitions. Living next to an insane asylum, Keats eventually started to develop physical and emotional problems. Diagnosed with TB, Keats helplessly watched his beloved brother die from the final stages of the same disease. Furthermore, he was unable to marry his fiancée, Fanny Brawne. Drawing from his individual experiences, Keats wrote very vividly about the pains and suffering he was going through. He expressed his unfulfillment as a writer, his love and struggles, the fleetingness of life and happiness, and his inner conflicts. Jack Stillinger writes, “It is this combined experience of suffering, death, and love all at once, against a background of serious conversation, reading, and thinking, that accounts for Keats's sudden rise to excellence in his poetry” (qtd. in Everett). All of Keats’s life experiences combined to make works of arts that could only be inspired by individual human experiences. John Keats’s background directly affects the topic of his works in order to realistically articulate his feelings in poetic form.
Aristotle believes that everyone is in need of some type of friend, he states that “for rich people and those who rule and have power, there seems to be the greatest need for friends.”(page. 144, book VIII) Aristotle believes that we as humans benefit greatly from having friends, no matter who we are or what position we are in wealthy or poor. There are three distinct types of friendship that Aristotle directs his beliefs towards. These three types of friendships include: Utility, pleasure, and Goodness or virtuous friendship. Aristotle believes that friendship is something that is extremely important to have and should be held above many things. Friendship Utility is unlike the friendships of pleasure or goodness because as Aristotle puts it is “for the old” he explains that friendship Utility is a friendship that two people may have where they only communicate with one another for self-benefit or to gain something for one’s self. These two people are not likely to live with each other and at times may not even be nice to th...
In the last chapter of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, the tvix neeb and relatives were at the Lee’s house to perform a ceremony. To begin the first ceremony, a cord was tied around the smaller pig’s neck, in order to bind the pig’s soul to the souls it would protect. The pig’s throat was slit and was brought outside to gut and clean it. A chicken was boiled for the ceremony as well. Lia’s family surrounded her and the larger pig was brought into the room and a horn was thrown at the pig to see if it would accept it. When the pig accepted it, they held down the pig and cut its neck. Then the tvix neeb did the most dangerous part of the ceremony where he flipped his headdress over his face, which blocked his sight of the world but
In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle describes both justice and friendship as an intertwining bond that hold together a society. Subsequently, Aristotle makes reference to three (3) kinds of friendship. The first is friendship based on utility, where both people derive some benefit from each other; a lowest form of friendship. During this stage, the friendship is still at its lowest form, shallow and or “easily dissolved”. This so-called friendship is in its exploratory phase, as each person is still discovering and learning about the other person’s personality, perhaps likes and dislikes and how one fits in the other’s needs. During this phase, the friendship is also fragile or easily broken; it’s perhaps in the inception phase. Additionally,
Everyone is unique, each person contributes each one of their own ideas into society. People go through experiences that make them decide what career they want to pursue. I went through a life changing experience that changed where I was heading in my life. Additionally, this first semester of college has increased my awareness of health issues and how bridging cultures is way to minimize mistakes in the health care field. In The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down includes mistakes that could have been prevented. The past experiences that I have been through, my values, and my heritage can improve the practice of health care delivery in America.
Unconditional love can be described as a pure affection bereft of circumstance. It is a true positive regard of others that bares no judgment. In a sense, unconditional love has no boundaries. In the film What Dreams May Come, the boundary between life and death fades and a family’s bond is tested. Tragedy by tragedy, unconditional love and guilt play major roles in the defiance of the laws of death. Chris Nielsen, the main character of the film, travels to the depths of the afterlife to find his beloved wife Annie and restore his family. In an epic journey that questions the very fabric of reality and faith, the Nielson family overcomes all odds and is reunited in the end. Throughout the film, unconditional love is represented in the Nielson’s love for their children, despite their faults; furthermore, this is continually shown with each death that claims a loved one from the family. This film is realistic in that unconditional love is seen beyond the screen and in our own lives.
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.
As with most other Pauline attributed documents, 1 Corinthians is believed to be a single document that addresses salient topics and rationalizes Paul’s view of faithfulness to Christ with Corinth citizens. The newly founded church of Corinth was in correspondence with Paul requesting his answers to questions they posed on topics ranging from marriage to the resurrection of the dead; the latter being one of the most highlighted in 1 Corinthians. Paul’s assurance of resurrection illustrates a concern for Corinth as he admonishes their disbelief in resurrection of the dead with a series of explanations as to why such doubt would render the faith of Christ “in vain”. Given the context of the time, Paul’s correspondence with Corinth clearly had an original intent of educating and admonishing Corinth on their views on resurrection. However, modern Christianity in its many forms has established an interpretation that slightly strays from its original inscription. Regardless, Paul’s letters not only shaped the ideals of Corinthians believers but influenced the Christian ideals of post mortem resurrection or eternal life as well.
Since the dawn of man, humans have always wanted to seek out the truth. Man has pondered and explored great thoughts and concepts that have caused much confusion. Perhaps the one question that has plagued man the most is what exactly is a soul. During the Roman Era, people believed in many gods, spirits, and life after death. As time progressed, different religious beliefs arose, and new sects of faith were established. The belief in one God replaced the belief in many gods and the belief of one's soul transforming into the after life was established. God was known as a Supreme Being, who gave his creations a soul and free will. But what does this mean? The problem of what exactly one's soul is has been a battle between people throughout time. Although this struggle caused people to abandon their beliefs, great authors like Augustine and Hildegard stuck to their visions and ideas in order to put faith back into our community.
Friendship is the most wonderful relationship that anyone can have. Ideally a friend is a person who offers love and respect and will never leave or betray us. Friends can tell harsh truths when they must be told. There are four different types of friends: True friends, Convenient friends, Special interest friends, and historical friends. To have friendship is to have comfort. In times of crisis and depression, a friend is there to calm us and to help lift up our spirits.