Comparing Chapters 8 And Nine Of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Within book 8 and 9 of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, he proposes friendship is one of the most choice-worthy goods an individual can have (Aristotle 149, 1170a, section 7). However, in chapter 3 of book 8, Aristotle asserts the finest friendships are enduring insofar it is good, and the virtues remain the same. However, his proposal about the similarities of virtues doesn't seem entirely correct since people gradually change over time, but the relationship can continue to be good and individuals remain close friends. Problematically, Aristotle asserts if the characteristics of the friend were to change, the friendship ought to be dissolved since the peer can potentially become bad; unless the agent can return their friend to their original
This because Aristotle emphasizes that a friendship is enduring, insofar the virtuous similarities remain the same. However, if the virtues of character were to gradually change over time in one of the individuals, Aristotle would propose this would entail the dissolution of the friendship. Arguably, it is because the conjunction of the good, and virtuous similarity falter. Problematically, Aristotle doesn't allow that good people can become friends, rather they must be similar on the account of his proposal. Furthermore, a problem that arises is that there is no clear concept of what similarity between individuals means. An idea that can be proposed is that the similarity can be based on a unit scale from 1.0 to 10.0 (1.0 is deficient, and 10.0 is excessive). Ideally, the closer individuals are on the scale to one-another, the more likely they could become potential friends. Arguably, this similarity can be the potential factor that starts a friendship due to an appeal in similar character, however it could not be the key element that makes a relationship enduring. Arguably, as the friendship matures, the individuals will come to discover other characteristics/traits about their peer that was not be explicitly presented by virtuous behaviour alone. These subjective characteristics are additional traits that make the individual appear far more lovable, which gives the agent further evidence their peer is a choice-worthy friend since there is a deeper appeal of character (125, section 4.). However, it is significant to note that these subjective characteristics can only be discovered through the means of time. In effect, virtuous similarity would inarguably be a significant aspect to creating a friendship, however the problem that arises is that people and their characteristics are susceptible to