When Souls Intertwine

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When Souls Intertwine

“The man who is to be happy will therefore need virtuous friends”

(Aristotle 4). Aristotle is saying that in order for someone to be

happy you must have not only friends, but virtuous friends. Virtuous

friends are your true friends. What is true friendship? How do you

know when someone is not only your friend, but your true friend? Some

may say that a true friend is loyal, honest, and cares for you,

someone who would die for you. Some may agree with Aristotle's view

of friendship. He classifies friendship into three categories:

friendship for utility, pleasure, or virtue. Aristotle says a virtuous

friendship is when you wish good things for the other person. Is this

all that constitutes a true friendship or is there more to it? What

exactly is a virtuous person? For Aristotle virtue is expressed in

action. Virtuous actions are about giving what one deserves. “a

virtuous friend seems to be naturally desirable for a virtuous man.

For that which is good by nature, we have said, is for the virtuous

man good and pleasant in itself” (Aristotle 3). It is a matter of

thinking and choosing what is good for the other person. . If two

people were to have a virtuous friendship then they would not be good

to each other merely out of habit. One must not look for rewards or

keep a tally of points; instead one must give of themselves freely

without wanting anything in return. “The good man acts for honour's

sake, and the more so the better he is, and acts for his friend's

sake, and sacrifices his own interest” (Aristotle 1).

Aristotle also explains that friendships of utility and pleasu...

... middle of paper ...

... of friendship in a more spiritual manner. Perhaps we

should begin to reintroduce into our dialog other words that might

describe the different levels of relationships we have, such as

"acquaintance," or the notion that we might be "familiar" with a

person. At the very least perhaps we should consider whether the term

friendship should be spent so easily and whether we should consider it

such an abundant commodity. Friendships should take time. As

Aristotle said, "though the wish for friendship comes quickly,

friendship does not" (1155a) Discovering the soul or core of another

person is one of the ultimate goals of friendship. We must remember

that this takes time. We must consider the metaphor of one another as

onions with many layers, the peeling back of which should be done

carefully and may even cause some tears.

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