Aristotle and the Philosophy of Friendship

The book offers a comprehensive account of the major philosophical works on friendship.

Lorraine Smith Pangle (Author)

9780521817455, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 November 2002

264 pages
23.6 x 16 x 2.1 cm, 0.497 kg

'Smith Pangle's scholarly and imaginatively sympathetic book is an excellent study of some of the major philosophical works on friendship, particularly Aristotle's.' Ethical Theory and Moral Practice

This book offers a comprehensive account of the major philosophical works on friendship and its relationship to self-love. The book gives central place to Aristotle's searching examination of friendship in the Nicomachean Ethics. Lorraine Pangle argues that the difficulties surrounding this discussion are soon dispelled once one understands the purpose of the Ethics as both a source of practical guidance for life and a profound, theoretical investigation into human nature. The book also provides fresh interpretations of works on friendship by Plato, Cicero, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne and Bacon. The author shows how each of these thinkers sheds light on central questions of moral philosophy: is human sociability rooted in neediness or strength? is the best life chiefly solitary, or dedicated to a community with others? Clearly structured and engagingly written, this book will appeal to a broad swathe of readers across philosophy, classics and political science.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. The challenge of Plato's Lysis
2. The three kinds of friendship
3. Aristotle and Montaigne on friendship as the greatest good
4. Friendships in politics and the family
5. Cicero's Laelius: political friendship at its best
6. Quarrels, conflicting claims and dissolutions
7. Friends as other selves
8. Goodwill, concord, and the love of benefactors
9. Self-love and noble sacrifice
10. Friendship in the happy life
Notes
Bibliography of modern works and editions
Index of names.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Philosophy [HP]