Aristotle and Ethos Friends

Nicomachean Ethics:

Aristotle was a professional philosopher and human nature hasn’t changed since ancient greece. Nicomachus was Aristotles son, I believe he wrote this book for his son. Thousands of years later it is still spot on.

By request, it is time to review Aristotle’s philosophy on friends. Those i’ve shared it with have found it extremely helpful in life. The mentor who pointed me here has, unknown to himself, helped lots of people with this structure. Here is my abbreviated version about something near and dear to my heart, “friends”.

Aristotle’s theory was that a man could have everything he needed in the world. Comfort, food, shelter and riches, yet he would not be happy if he had no one to share it with. This is one of the pillars of how Aristotle defined “friends”. Aristotle identifies 3 types of friends:

• Transactional Friends. these are people you see, often on a regular basis and perform transactions with. You may or may not know much about them, but you see and interact with them regularly, acknowledge each other, sometimes chat. The basis for the relationship is transactional.
• Activity Buddies. These are people that you engage in specific activities with. Arts, Sports, similar interests and activities put you together. You may know a lot about each others lives, or not. The basis of the friendship is around specific activities.
• Ethos Friends. “Ethos” means “true”. Ethos friends are the ‘gateway’ to happiness. Aristotle has a lot to say about happiness, but that’s for you to read yourself. The basis of Ethos friendship is ‘admiration of each others character.’ You share experiences (sometimes difficult) where you see the character shine through, want to emulate it, and work to incorporate those admirable character traits into your own life.

I have found that Ethos friends rare and essential. Ethos friends not only make my life better, they make me better.

Here’s some more about Aristotle to give some foundation.

Note that one of Aristotles “key virtues” described below is “Justice” I didn’t write it, google AI did.

Aristotle’s ethics, explored primarily in his “Nicomachean Ethics,” centers on the concept of eudiamonia (often translated as “flourishing” or “living well”) and the pursuit of virtue as a means to achieve it, emphasizing the importance of cultivating character traits that lead to a good life.

Here’s a more detailed look at key aspects of Aristotle’s ethics:

1. Eudaimonia as the Ultimate Goal:

• Aristotle believed that humans, like all things, have a specific function or purpose, and that fulfilling this function leads to a flourishing life (eudaimonia).
• For humans, this function is to live rationally and to exercise their virtues, leading to a life of happiness and well-being. 

2. The Role of Virtue:

• Aristotle identified virtues as character traits that enable individuals to live well and achieve eudaimonia. 
• He believed that virtues are developed through practice and habit, not simply through knowledge. 
• He emphasized the importance of finding the “golden mean” between two extremes, where virtues represent a balanced approach to behavior. 

3. The Doctrine of the Mean:

• Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean suggests that virtues are found in the middle ground between two vices: one of excess and one of deficiency.
• For example, courage is the virtue that lies between the vices of rashness (excess) and cowardice (deficiency). 

4. Key Virtues:

• Aristotle identified several key virtues, including courage, temperance, generosity, justice, and practical wisdom (phronesis). 
• He also emphasized the importance of friendship and the ability to live a life of leisure (rather than solely focusing on work). 

5. Practical Wisdom (Phronesis):

• Aristotle considered practical wisdom (phronesis) to be a crucial virtue, as it involves the ability to make sound judgments and decisions in practical matters.
• It is the ability to understand the specific circumstances of a situation and act accordingly, rather than simply following rules. 

6. The Importance of Character:

• Aristotle believed that a person’s character is the most important aspect of their life, and that good character is essential for living a good life.
• He emphasized the importance of cultivating virtuous habits and developing a strong moral character. 

7. Relationship to Other Philosophical Traditions:

• Aristotle’s ethics has had a profound influence on Western philosophy, and his ideas continue to be relevant to contemporary ethical debates. 
• His emphasis on virtue and character has been particularly influential in the development of virtue ethics, a major branch of moral philosophy. 

• Aristotelian ethics – Aristotle emphasized that virtue is practical, and that the purpose of ethics is to become good, not merely to know.

A more modern and trite summary would be:

friends are friends for a reason, a season or a lifetime.