Love and friendship in plato and aristotle oxford scholarship. I had to get this book for a love and friendship philosophy class i took and i was pleasantly surprised at how intriguing the articles in here were. Largely, we may speculate this to be related to the emergence of new forms of social aggregations. How has friendship changed since the ancient greeks began to analyze it, and how has modern technology altered its very definition. He links the resources of the philosophical tradition with numerous illustrations from modern culture to. Nov 14, 2002 this book offers a comprehensive account of the major philosophical works on friendship and its relationship to selflove. The book also provides fresh interpretations of works on friendship by plato, cicero, epicurus, seneca, montaigne and bacon. May 11, 2018 its equally all right if the first book of philosophy you encountered was epictetus enchiridion. I spoke with nehamas about the philosophy of friendship, how it. Sep 08, 2005 a fascinating look at friendship from ancient times to today, the philosophy of friendship asks questions we need to hear. It considers ideals of intimacy and fusion in the context of claims that such ideals are unrealistic and even dangerous. I spoke with nehamas about the philosophy of friendship, how it compares to other kinds of love, and why, as he writes, we love both art and our friends, and in the same way. Although it is a bit unclear how to understand these distinctions, the basic idea seems to be that pleasure, utility, and virtue are the.
This book fully explores for the first time an idea common to plato and aristotle, which unites their treatmentsotherwise very differentof love and friendship. Jun 21, 20 aristotle sets out a number of conditions essential to friendship in any full sense of the term, and we go through each of them, examining what these criteria are, how they function, and what. I havent read all of them, but the ones i did read were very enlightening insofar as i never realized how troublesome it can be to work out what friendship is. In this new version of his book, previously published as the philosophy of friendship, he explores how notions of friendship may be changing because of the.
What is the nature of friendship, and what is its significance in our lives. The philosophy of friendship by mark vernon goodreads. Friendship, as understood here, is a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other, for the others sake, and that involves some degree of intimacy. Approaching the kaleidoscope of friendship friendship. Bibliography includes bibliographical references p. The following are quotes on the topic from some of the most notable thinkers from ancient greece and italy. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Ciceros scepticism about friendship in the public realm is. Wartofsky, distinguished professor of philosophy, baruch college, city university of new york. The book club click to join in the discussion about this months book. Aristotle and the philosophy of friendship lorraine. The topic of primary friendship virtue friendship, character friendship in aristotle has been in need of a booklength treatment, and in particular of a treatment that goes beyond the obviously relevant texts in nicomachean ethics viiiix. Aristotle and the philosophy of friendship by lorraine. He links the resources of the philosophical tradition with numerous illustrations from modern culture to ask about friendship and sex, work, politics and spirituality.
The contemplative life, on the other hand, even if it requires a community to nurture and train the wise before they have. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. They also did not think men and women could have friendships, with which most people might disagree today. May 07, 2018 founded by the father of western philosophy, the greek philosopher plato, aristotle was the most promising student around. By drawing from deleuze and guattaris philosophy, especially their concept of friendship, gregg lambert offers an important reconceptualization of kants essay on perpetual peace, and in doing so he sets the stage for a. However, i am not persuaded by her claim that aristotles account of friendship does or is intended to devalue the public, political life in favor of a life devoted to philosophy. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content.
The ideal of perfect friendship may strike the modern reader as being somewhat elitist, but aristotle is surely right in holding that the best kinds of friendship are both rare and demanding. In this new, accessible philosophy of friendship, mark vernon examines the love called friendship upon which so much happiness depends. The philosophy of friendship yale university press london. Many of the greatest philosophers in both ancient and modern times have addressed those.
As such, friendship is undoubtedly central to our lives, in part because the special concern we have for our friends. Philosophy talk relies on the support of listeners like you to stay on the air and online. Friendship is not merely agreeing with somebody on something but coming together with those agreeing beliefs and determining a mutually advantageous course of action. Mark vernon links the resources of the philosophical t. The book provides interpretations of works on friendship by plato, cicero, epicurus, seneca, montaigne and bacon.
May 04, 2016 i spoke with nehamas about the philosophy of friendship, how it compares to other kinds of love, and why, as he writes, we love both art and our friends, and in the same way. A summary of book viii in aristotles nicomachean ethics. The result is a book that is full of fascinating discussions, not all of which directly advance her central argument. Youre even all right if you started out with some work by bertrand russell, or ayn rand. The odd thing about this book is that its about the friendship between hume and adam smith of which there isnt that much.
Translated by stanley lombardo aristotle, nicomachean ethics books viii and ix, rhetoric ii. Unusually, he argues that plato and nietzsche, as much. Lorraine pangle argues that the difficulties surrounding this. The nicomachean ethics of aristotle is a great book, evryone one should read it because aristotle manages to think of individual happiness in connection. It considers ideals of intimacy and fusion in the context of claims.
A central bond, a cherished value, a unique relationship, a profound human need, a type of love. 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. Friendship played a central role in ancient ethics and political philosophy. Jul 25, 2019 in modern and contemporary philosophy, friendship loses the central role it had played once upon a time. It considers ideals of intimacy and fusion in the con. This is the story of frenemiessorry to use that word. The idea is that although persons are separate, their lives need not be. The 10 best philosophy books for beginners gregory sadler. So, friendship can not flourish in the republic, and conversely, only the republic can give rise to true friendship. For thoreau, friendship was one of lifes great rewards. For aristotle, friendship was a necessary part of a healthy, well functioning life, the good life. Excerpt friendship was a great subject of stories and of philosophical reflection in classical antiquity. For socrates as for plato, friendship and philosophy are aspects of one and the same impulse, one and the same love. Aristotles timeless advice on what real friendship is and.
Aristotle aka aristoteles nikomakhou kai phaistidos stageirites 384 322 b. The book gives central place to aristotles searching examination of friendship in the nicomachean ethics. In his new book on friendship, alexander nehamas, a professor in the. Rather than utility or pleasure, this kind of relationship is based on a mutual appreciation of the virtues the other person holds dear. The first centers on the nature of friendship, the difference between friendship and other personal loves, and the importance of friendship in the individuals life.
The philosophy of friendship yale university press. The topic of primary friendship virtue friendship, character friendship in aristotle has been in need of a book length treatment, and in particular of a treatment that goes beyond the obviously relevant texts in nicomachean ethics viiiix. In singular and provocative fashion, gregg lamberts philosophy after friendship introduces us to the key social personae that have populated modern political philosophy. One persons life may overflow into anothers, and as such, helping another person is a way of serving oneself. The second section discusses the moral significance of friendship and the response of various ethical theories and theorists aristotelian, christian, kantian, and consequentialist. Lessons from aristotle on the art of connection friends hold a mirror up to each other. Sandra lynch this book explains the persistence of friendship today in the light of the history of philosophical approaches to the subject. Plato on friendship and eros stanford encyclopedia of. Smith was keen to destroy lots of personal writing, unfinished drafts and all kinds of manuscriptsand it. The author shows how each of these thinkers sheds light on central questions of moral philosophy. In this new accessible philosophy of friendship, mark vernon links the resources of the philosophical tradition with numerous illustrations from modern culture to ask what friendship is, how it relates to sex, work, politics and spirituality. Lambert argues that the vitality of this conceptual persona, originated by the greeks, has been exhausted by centuries of war. Unusually, he argues that plato and nietzsche, as much as aristotle and aelred, should be put centre stage. How many types of friendship can we recognize, and in what degree shall we seek each of them.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading aristotle and the philosophy of friendship. Aristotles philosophy of friendship still matters today. Grant that friendship is far more a matter of emotion that rationality, nevertheless in philosophy philosophy understood in its broadest sense as the mature conversation that humankind has with itself about the things that matter most to it there has long been discussion about friendship as among the best and most desirable of. By drawing from deleuze and guattaris philosophy, especially their concept of friendship, gregg lambert offers an important reconceptualization of kants essay on perpetual peace, and in doing so he sets the stage for a postwar philosophy that remains true to kants ideal.
In each work, socrates as the quintessential philosopher is in two ways center stage, first, as a lover of wisdom sophia and discussion logos, and, second, as himself an inverter or disturber of erotic norms. Aristotle and the philosophy of friendship lorraine smith. However, friendship and creates a report based much between individuals. This book explains the persistence of friendship today in the light of the history of philosophical approaches to the subject. Modern philosophers do not say much about friendship, but ancient philosophers thought it was essential to ethics and the good life. Lorraine pangle argues that the difficulties surrounding this discussion are soon dispelled once one understands the purpose of the ethics. A principal fruit of friendship, francis bacon wrote in his timeless meditation on the subject, is the ease and discharge of the fulness and swellings of the heart, which passions of all kinds do cause and induce. The odd thing about this book is that its about the friendship between hume and adam smith of which there isnt that much surviving evidence, in terms of letters.
Best quotes about friendship from the greatest thinkers. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. His research focuses on metaphysics, ethics, and philosophy of biology. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. In philosophical discussions of friendship, it is common to follow aristotle nicomachean ethics, book viii in distinguishing three kinds of friendship. Nov 27, 20 grant that friendship is far more a matter of emotion that rationality, nevertheless in philosophy philosophy understood in its broadest sense as the mature conversation that humankind has with itself about the things that matter most to it there has long been discussion about friendship as among the best and most desirable of. Buy the friendship book by francis gay online at alibris. Every hour of the day countless situations arise that call for advice, and for that advice we have to look to philosophy. Plato and aristotle both give an important place to friendship in the good life. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Friendship was associated in the popular mind with courage, with republicanism, and with the spirited resistance to injustice and tyranny. Buy the philosophy of friendship by mark vernon isbn. The writer recommends the best books on friendship.
Philosophy and friendship thinking about identity and difference contents acknowledgements preface part i identity and difference in philosophical conceptions of friendship chapter 1. Aristotles final form of friendship seems to be the most preferable. Aristotle and the philosophy of friendship kindle edition by pangle, lorraine smith. On philosophy and friendship and on grief for lost friends, translated by. Without it no one can lead a life free of fear or worry. The book gives central place to aristotles examination of friendship in the nicomachean ethics. Since happiness is an activity, friendships role in happiness must also be active. Friendship, that pervasive, everyday, and subtle matter of our most intimate personal life, has rarely been accorded its due. But in todays cultural landscape of muddled relationships scattered across various platforms for connecting.
Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of nicomachean ethics and what it means. Philosophy after friendship university of minnesota press. This book offers a comprehensive account of the major philosophical works on friendship and its relationship to selflove. If you missed part 1, aristotle on the other self, click here. In philosophical discussions of friendship, it is common to follow aristotle nicomachean ethics, book viii in distinguishing three kinds of. Aristotle and the philosophy of friendship by lorraine smith. In this new accessible philosophy of friendship, mark vernon links the resources of the philosophical tradition with numerous illustrations.
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