Aristotles nicomachean ethics delves into this idea of friendship being a necessity as well as conveying the three types of friendship he establishes. Through friendship with each other, good men find a source of pleasure and increase in goodness. Aristotle addresses these questions on friendship in books 8 and 9 of his nicomachean ethics. Nicomachean ethics is aristotles most famous work on the subject of ethics and virtue. Aristotle addresses the topic of friendship in book 8 and 9 of his nicomachean ethics. Cliffsnotes on aristotles ethics explores the ancient greek philosopher and scientists writings on ethics, particularly his analyses of character, pleasure, courage, friendship, and intelligence as ingredients. The greep philosopher aristotle wrote a great work in ten books, nicomachean ethics in which he expounds on a set of values. It is safe to say friendship is a significant part of our lives, and no individual can vouch for friendship like greek philosopher, aristotle.
In the nicomachean ethics, aristotle writes about friendship, happiness, and virtue in terms that have had a seminal influence on all subsequent ethical discourse in european philosophy. Its one of those texts that is worth rereading a couple of times in ones life, for as we mature, we are privy to new insights offered by this great person. The nicomachean ethics is the name normally given to aristotles bestknown work on ethics. Selfishness isnt going to cut it in aristotles nicomachean ethics.
Friendship in aristotles nicomachean ethics supersaturated. Every good man wishes to share with his friends that which forms the essence and goal of his life, and stands in the same relation to his friend as he does to himself. Aristotle describes his ethical work as being different from his other kinds of. The work consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes said to be from his lectures at the lyceum which were either edited by or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus. Friendship based on utility, pleasure, and virtue were thoroughly examined and ultimately, show more content for example, lets say we have two friends, alia and alana. A summary of book i in aristotles nicomachean ethics. What aristotle can teach you about the 3 types of friends. Further comparisons between the forms of friendship 9. Our next business after this will be to discuss friendship. The nicomachean ethics full audio book by aristotle 384 bce 322 bce.
Nicomachean ethics pdf summary aristotle 12min blog. Aristotles nicomachean ethics, said to be dedicated to aristotles son nicomachus, is widely regarded as one of the most important works in the history of western philosophy. The internet classics archive nicomachean ethics by. In the philosophical text three types of friendship excerpt from the nicomachean ethics, aristotle describes three types of friendship and their differences. The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the. In this essay i will discuss what aristotle had to say about the subject of friendship in this work, and why it was so critical to his concept of the good life. Aristotle says that just as virtuous behavior improves an individual, friends have the potential to generate improvements upon each others lives. The second is friendship based on pleasure, where both people are drawn to the others wit, good looks, or other pleasant qualities.
Aristotles account of friendship in the nicomachean ethics a. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle and michael prichard. Aristotle defined goaldirected teleological ethics in terms of purpose and achievement of those ends. For no one would choose to live without friends, but possessing all other good things. Now here a common measure has been provided in the form of money, and therefore everything is. In aristotles nicomachean ethics, he states that there are three types of friendships that can be obtained the friendship of pleasure, the friendship of utility and the friendship of good. Aristotles ideas about virtue and friendship are especially important for their impact on shakespearean drama. Aristotle on friendship when friends change nicomachean ethics. In the practical syllogism, as aristotle says nicomachean ethics, vii, 3, p. Cambridge texts in the history of philosophy includes index. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. But later on, when you get pickier, more careful, and use the right filters, you start to realize that this kind of friendship is a doubleedged sword. Intensification of the degree of friendship results in a concomitant intensification in degree in feelings of obligation between friends.
The nicomachean ethics of aristotle is a great book, evryone one should read it because aristotle manages to think of individual happiness in connection with the happiness of the city. Librivox recording of the nicomachean ethics, by aristotle. This course is taught at the university of north carolina greensboro. Three kinds of friendship aristotle, nicomachean ethics.
The friendship of pleasure is a relationship based on the simple enjoyment of being around a particular person. In nicomachean ethics, aristotle classifies friendships into three sorts. The first is friendship based on utility, where both people derive some benefit from each other. Aristotle terence irwin the translation in this book is detailed linebyline commentary, which brings out the subtlety of aristotles thought asit develops from moment to moment. Types of friendships in aristotles nicomachean ethics books 8. Three kinds of friendship aristotle, nicomachean ethics bk 89 a course in ethics. Can we think of anything else that is found in the soul but does not fit into one of these categories. According to aristotle, there are three types of friendships.
For without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods. Get free homework help on aristotles nicomachean ethics. This is a handout developed for my students as they study aristotles nicomachean ethics books 89, focused specifically on the types of friendship. Aristotle details three types of friendshipsof usefulness, of pleasure, and complete friendship. Walker the nicomachean ethics, as is well known, distinguishes three types of friendship the friendship of goodness, the friendship of pleasure, and the friendship of utility. Aristotle describes his ethical work as being different from his other kinds of study, because it is not just for the sake. The nicomachean ethics pdf summary goes over the ten books of aristotles. According to aristotle, these are shallow and easily dissolved because individuals are seeking to essentially barter and trade a product, service, connection. The nicomachean ethics is one of aristotles great works and discusses virtues. Addressing the question of how men should best live, aristotles treatise is not a mere philosophical meditation on the subject, but a practical examination that aims to provide a guide for living out its recommendations.
Obligations in friendship are coextensive with obligations injustice. In these types of friendships, those involved dont love their friend for who they are, but rather what they bring to the relationship. It states that there are only three kinds of things found in the soul. In this lecturediscussion video from my spring 2012 ethics classes at marist college, we finish our study of aristotles virtue ethics by examining his views on friendship. The end of aristotle s nicomachean ethics declared that the inquiry into ethics necessarily follows into politics, and the two works are frequently considered to be parts of a larger treatise, or perhaps connected lectures, dealing with the philosophy of human affairs. The nicomachean ethics by aristotle 32,411 ratings, 3. Get aristotles nicomachean ethics support my work here philosophy tutorials. Commonlit three types of friendship excerpt from the. Opinions about the relationship between the two works, for example which was written first, and which originally contained the three common books, is divided. The ten books which comprise it are based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum and were either edited by or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus in nicomachean ethics, aristotle focuses on the importance of continually behaving virtuously and developing virtue rather than committing specific good actions. In book eight of nicomachean ethics, aristotle defines the three types of friendships that exist in the greek word philia a broader definition of friendship than one might think, which are based off usefulness, pleasure, or goodness, the three reasons for liking something. In this first level of friendship, people expect to derive some benefit from each other.
Aristotle is generally regarded as one of the most influential ancient thinkers in a number of philosophical fields, including political theory. Aristotle thinks that it is natural for many friendships to break down if the bases for the friendship disappear. In the first type, friendship based on utility, people associate for their mutual usefulness. It is based on notes from aristotles lectures at the lyceum and may have. So, friendship can not flourish in the republic, and conversely, only the republic can give rise to true friendship. The nicomachean ethics of friendship based on utility. It creates a parallel system to biblical ethics in shaping western ideals of the good. Its the kind that usually comes up a lot when youre a kid or teenager. Objections to aristotle argument, nicomachean ethics, book ii, ch. Friendship is a community or partnership in the search for truth and the good. Rereading it provided me an amazing aha so much more made sense to me. This is a video lecture from phi 251, history of ancient philosophy.
The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum, which were either edited by or dedicated to aristotles son, nicomachus. Listen to nicomachean ethics by aristotle, michael prichard for free with a 30 day. Some of aristotles bestknown works on ethics can be found in his book nicomachean ethics, which was published in approximately 340 bce. Friendship consists of a mutual feeling of goodwill between two people. Aristotles account of friendship in the nicomachean ethics. Aristotles definition of virtue nicomachean ethics ii. Friendship is the true expression of community, though what is right and proper in one kind of friendship may not be appropriate in another. Books v, vi, and vii of the nicomachean ethics are identical to books iv, v, and vi of the eudemian ethics. It is nothing of the kind, being a densely packed philosophical treatise on the.
The nicomachean ethics ne, or the ethics is almost certainly the product of aristotles developed intellect, consisting in a revision of around 330 of his earlier eudemian ethics though some scholars believe the eudemian to be later, and indeed better. This is one of the three types of friendships that youre probably well aware of. Three kinds of friendship aristotle, nicomachean ethics bk 89 a course in. Aristotle makes the argument that friends can be regarded as second selves. In addition to the reader, this audio book was produced by. Addressing the question of how men should best live, aristotles treatise is not a mere philosophical meditation on the. The nicomachean ethics book 1 illustrated guide considered as one of the most influential works in the canon of ethics, the nicomachean ethics is a study of virtue, meaning, and. Of these three, only complete friendship is the real thing. There are three types of friendship, according to aristotle.
In his metaphysics, aristotle described how socrates, the friend and teacher of. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle, 2000 online research. Nicomachean ethics by aristotle and michael prichard audiobook. And whats more, we have to be more interested in loving than being loved. This and the other two pieces, egoism in aristotles nicomachean ethics, and eudaimonia in aristotles nicomachean ethics, work together to present the case that altruism is utterly foreign to aristotles ethics and that egoism is his implicit doctrine, despite typical mainstream commentators interpretations. Listen to unlimited audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Further comparisons between theforms of friendship 7. The first is friendship based on utility, where both. Nicomachean ethics project gutenberg selfpublishing. Thus a sword that has the purpose of killing is a good sword if it achieves this well.
Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The nicomachean ethics book viii full audio book youtube. And you can imagine what happens when either friend cant. The work, which plays a preeminent role in defining aristotelian ethics, consists of ten books, originally separate scrolls, and is understood to be based on notes from his lectures at the lyceum. In this excerpt from his book, aristotle defines three types of friendship. Aristotle 385 bce 322 bce was an ancient greek philosopher and scientist. Pdf aristotle handout the three types of friendship.