Aristotle Friendship Essay Example

Friendship guards prosperity and offers refuge when faced with misfortune and poverty. Aristotle saw friendship as one of the aspects that brings real joy to life. He also felt for life to be defined as well-lived, it should include significant and enduring friendships. Moreover, Aristotle pointed out that friendship needs justice, but the most fundamental element is equality. As such, according to Aristotle, equality in friendship is more important than justice. The essay will explore this concept raised by Aristotle that equality is more important than justice in friendship.

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When friends are in a conflict, they require justice to settle their differences. However, since it is a friendship, not much is needed except equality. Aristotle thus depicted that friends should treat each other similarly and in this way, they will even not even require justice when they conflict.

On the other hand, there are three kinds of friends. There are those who are kept for pleasure. For instance, friends may love listening to a particular type of music or eating a specific kind of chocolate. As such, for such kind of a friend to be sustained in someone's life, then they ought to have equal interests. It is difficult for them to continue being friends if they cannot enjoy the same type of activities.

Also, there are virtue friends. Such friends strive to attain what is best for them and keep each other accountable. Accountability is where friends correct each other when they are wrong. There is also the love for each other which is usually unconditional and acceptance of each other without being critical. Therefore, for this type of friend to be maintained, equality is relevant and evident as well. The need for similar feelings or approach towards each other is crucial.

Additionally, there are benefit friends who share the same interest and maintain offer value. However, in case of conflict, the friendship will stop. The importance of equality is thus necessary to sustain such a relationship. In a time of conflict, justice will be relevant to solve the issue at hand, but equality is the overall guide.

Aristotle further emphasized the importance of equality in friendship instead of justice by depicting that it should be regarding human relation. Friends should put everything aside and view the other as human despite there being differences in social or economic background. Moreover, Aristotle pointed out the preference of love among various people. Friendship relies more on loving the other instead of being loved. Virtuous individuals or friends for instance usually hold on to each other and do not do wrong or even let their friend be immoral. However, wicked friends only last for a short time to delight in each other's mischief (Ward 8). When there is equality in friendship, such an instance of wickedness is highly unlikely to be observed. Equality guides friends to want the best for each other at all times.

Conclusion

The essay has assessed the concept of equality being important in friendship than justice as depicted by Aristotle. According to Aristotle, when friends conflict, they require justice, but equality ensures that this does not occur. Through equality, friends will rarely contradict. Besides, the three kinds of friendship, which is virtue, benefit and pleasure, require equality to be maintained. When friends have the same interest and can offer the same benefit, it relates to equality and further means that their association can last for long. Love is also relevant according to Aristotle to maintain equality among friends.

Works cited

Ward, Ann. Contemplating Friendship In Aristotle's Ethics. Albany [New York] State University Of New York Press, 2016, p. 8.