A Philosophy Of Friendship

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A Philosophy Of Friendship

Revised due to template changes, November 25 2021

Blackburn explains friendship was a moral philosophy much discussed by Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle and the Stoics, but much less in the modern era. Friendship concepts came back into play with modern contextualist and feminist ethics. Within friendship there is an openness to the other that can be 'seen as an enlargement of self'. Friendship is an escape from too much emphasize on pursuing one's own self interest. Blackburn (1996: 149).

According to the Nelson's Reference text a friend is described as for example on page 271:

Highly esteemed

Nature of common interest
Nature of common love
Nature of common sympathy
Nature of common sacrifice

Value of

Constructive Criticism
Helpful Advice
Valuable in Time of Need
Always Faithful

Dangers of

May entice to sin
Some are necessary
Some are untrustworthy

An example provided is Proverbs 17: 17...

From the New American Standard Bible

17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

Obviously in context this would not always be absolutely true but one can understand the truth of it in an ancient Middle Eastern context. It is inspired Scripture, teaching what a friend should be like and what a family may be like. A family will often tend to hold together in difficult times.

I discussed 'A Philosophy Of Friendship' recently. Yesterday after arriving back from my podiatrist's office I headed to the downstairs part of the condo complex to visit my Mother. We were discussing friendship. I mentioned that philosophically, I have reasoned that seniors and disabled persons as harsh as this reads, actually need to in this fallen world become more extroverted, contrary I realize to what usually actually happens and more flexible and more social as one ages in order to basically not be left behind and alone in many cases. Again I know this is harsh, but this is within a world where there is the problem of evil.

And yes, I understand that when one is ill one does not want to socialize as much. I have an empirical understanding of the concept.

Mom mentioned to me that I had become more extroverted, more flexible and more social in comparison to years ago. I agreed and I mentioned that this was a necessity for me...

No apologies.

Requires social flexibility as a friend.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Nelson's Three-In-One Bible Reference (1982), Nashville, Thomas Nelson Publishers.