friendship

Chris Ptak A Virtuous Friendship

Aristotle’s definition of a virtuous friendship can be easily contradicted. It is easy to say that a virtuous friendship is to will the good of another for their own sake, but can we as human beings be capable of doing a completely unselfish act? Can we truthfully say that we are friends with one another, not for our own sake but for the sake of our friends?
To answer this question let us begin to discuss the different types of friendships according to Aristotle. Let us begin with the friendship of utility. According to Aristotle in book (VIII, i), a friendship of utility is based on people who are useful to each other because they benefit each other in what they offer and how they offer it. A good example of a friendship of utility might be the relationship between a car salesman and a car buyer. The car salesman needs the buyer because he has to make a living and the buyer needs the salesman because he needs a car. Both have something the other wants. These friendships do not last very long as once the buyer is no longer useful to the salesman, or visa versa, the connection is severed and the friendship ceases to be.
The second type of friendship is the friend ship of pleasure. According to Aristotle in book (VIII, ii), Friendships of pleasure are based on the amount of pleasure the people get from being in the relationship. People who go to football matches together, or who go to the pub together might be in this type of relationship. They are friends for their own sake, because the friendship brings them pleasure and enjoyment, not for their friend's sake.
And thirdly in book (VIII, iii), Aristotle speaks of a friendship based on virtue Friendships of virtue, unlike friendships of utility and pleasure, these types of friendships can only occur