Aristotles Ethics MODULE 6 Lesson 2 Friendship Human

Aristotle’s Ethics MODULE 6 Lesson 2: Friendship

Human Fulfillment includes n Concept of your life as a whole n Circles of friends you love and trust n Wise and timely deliberation/decisions n Life governed by justice and law n A consistent state of moral character

What is Friendship? (filia) n Friendship – Goodwill toward persons – not an emotional state – Essential to a good life n Friendships of – utility (e. g. business) – pleasure (e. g. sports) – virtue (character) n True friendship – Giver & receiver – based in self-love – “expands the self”

Aristotle’s Virtue-Theory of Friendship Aristotle’s questions n n n n What is real as opposed to superficial friendship? Is friendship or enmity more ‘natural’ to human beings? Who is the greater friend, the lover or the beloved? Why do friendships end? What is the relationship of pleasure to friendship? What is the relation of justice to friendship? What is the relationship of self-love to friendship? Why does the virtuous person need friends? Aristotle’s answers n NE VIII. 1 -6: 3 types, 1 st = reciprocal conscious choice—goodwill—virtue n n n n Pol. I: both rooted in physis, but friendship also an ‘end’ (telos) Friend wish well for the other’s sake VIII. 8 Friendship was ‘superficial’ VIII. 13 NE VIII. 6: people will not live with things that cause them pain NE VIII. 7 f. reciprocity of equals and unequals; public vs. private unions NE IX. 4 -8: based on true self-love of good to one another NE IX. 9 -12: nature, pleasure, the interpersonal ‘self’

Problems with Imperfect Friendship Pleasure—based – Depend on pleasure, which may fade – Desire for pleasure may interfere w friendship – Pleasure may be competitive (e. g. 2 players on team) Utility—based – Depend on the utility, which may fade – Desire for pleasure may interfere w friendship – Utility may be competitive (e. g. 2 politicians who become rivals)

Justice vs. Friendship I n Justice = virtue of – – Social order Rules and Behavior Institutions Life with others under rules/law – Principles with some exceptions (e. g. equity) – “Human rights” (natural vs. conventional) n Friendship = virtue of – – Personal life Feelings /Attitudes Relationships Life in communities, shared interests – Transcends justice: friend = “other self” – But justice still critically important

Justice and Friendship II Both = Interpersonal virtues n Justice = personal policy, principle – Conventional justice – Justice as virtue implies respect, not love – Respect vs. “Enmity” n Friendship = based on moral qualities, mutual respect/love – Conventional friendships – V-Friendships imply respect + love n Tensions between justice & friendship – Justice: reciprocity = demanded by friends, difficult if unequal VIII. 7, 13 f. – Friendship: prone to violate justice, as it seems we owe friends more IX. 2 f. – Friendship = a firmer bond than justice VIII. 9 • Justice = association of persons with rights • Friendship = free associations of persons & minds/reason • Friendly activities = free and self-expressive, self-actualizing

What is false self-love? NE IX. 4 -8 n Examples: – – n Lack of pride: will not risk defeat/loss Boaster: vs. self-knowledge Unjust person: vs. friendship Foolish person: vs. self-respect False self-love – – – Aims at external goods (e. g. $) ‘Self’-indulgent or pride in externals Self-esteem vs. self-respect Cannot recognize dependency/need for others Always Craving for more ‘proof’ of self-value Always In conflict with others, master-slave relations

What is true Self-Love? NE IX. 4 -8 n Is it good or bad? – Proper pride vs. egotism – Care for virtues: self-respect n Self-love based on virtue – What is the ‘true self’? Nous+: i. e. living a thoughtful, principled life – We should love ourselves • • value our virtues/lives; commitment to activities, vs. mere outcomes Commitment to friendships, vs. mere use Value best qualities in self and others – Self-friendship: directive, not judgmental; encouraging, tempering, fair-minded, smart – We love ourselves best in pursuits of excellence

True Self-Love (cf. esp. IX. 4, 8) n Self-care, self-respect, selfappreciation “ethically self-centered, socially action-centered” n n n Valuing and pursuing your goals mindfully Having good goals (I. e. , conducive to personal flourishing) Knowing yourself (an ongoing challenge) Valuing flourishing in others as well as oneself Friendships with other good people (cf. IX. 9) Self-expressive and virtuous actions

Answers to Skeptics To Egoists and ‘Immoralists’: – No one can find peace and fulfillment except in rational, friendly relationships to other good people. n To Altruists: – All human beings by nature care for their own wellbeing, and those of their loved ones. n To Hedonists: – personal and interpersonal actitivites and relations are not good b/c they are pleasurable, but are truly enjoyable b/c they are good n To Relativists: – some individuals’ & societies’ practices are more deeply nourishing of human rational nature & friendship than others n