Aristotle on Friendship
In this session, we turn the skills we have developed in reasoning well to the topic of friendship. Relationships—with our family, friends, and significant others—are perhaps the single most important aspect to a life well lived. And yet, many of us do not reflect deeply about the kinds of people we ought to be friends with or on what friendship is really for. This week, we’ll reflect on these questions by examining the work of one of the most influential philosophers in human history: Aristotle.
Text: The Nicomachean Ethics Book VIII, Aristotle
Suggested reading: “What Great Philosophers Teach Us about Friendship”
Learning outcomes:
- Understand the difference between friendships of utility, pleasure, and virtue according to Aristotle.
- Reflect on the kinds of relationships we tend to cultivate and compare them to the advice Aristotle gives about friendship.
Do this:
- Make two lists. For the first, make a list of the 8-10 closest friends you currently have. Once you have this list, write 1-2 sentences about what draws you to them (e.g., shared hobbies, certain character traits, shared values, etc.). For your second list, write the 10-15 most important things you are looking for in a significant other (be honest with yourself!). If you can, rank your list. Once you have made both lists, reflect on your relationships and whether you seem to approach friendships in the way Aristotle thinks we should. Reflect also on whether you are a good friend to others, as Aristotle would see it.