by Ajantha Ramachandran

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: January 02, 2009

Friendship, discussed in book nine of Nicomachean Ethics, is portrayed to be a complex subject, according to Aristotle. There are few true friendships, suggests Aristotle. This is affirmed through his argument, book nine. True friendships are described as those that are there in good fortune, but who do not wish for you to be there during times of pain and sorrow. This seems so, because inflicting pain upon a friend is hurtful for the original person. True friendship is very different from other friendships. For example, there is the gratuitous act which does not count as a friendship. Rather, it can be categorized as the steps to building a relationship.

Aristotle touches upon the idea that friendship is best found with one who has similar traits as you. The more similar, the better a friend will be. He also questions the idea that when friends change, should you choose to not be their friend anymore? This brings to mind the idea of narcissism. If a friend is one who has the most traits in common with you, then it only makes sense for you to be most similar to yourself. Therefore, the true friend is created upon discovering your likes and dislikes.

Aristotle later questions the validity of a friendship with oneself. Is this real friendship? One must not love oneself according to the Bible. If this is so, how can you be your own best friend?

This seems to be the ever-present question in book nine. The search for true friendship is never-ending. Friends come and go based on your like or dislike for what they have to offer, suggests Aristotle. He talks about friendship as a commodity. When the benefits run out, you no longer wish to expend your time and patience with this person.

The commodity is gained through desire for another person's useful traits. The more they help you, the more demand they are in. However, you may not have more than a few of these precious commodities. If so, then the value in them is lost. Thus, hinting once more at the idea that narcissism is the truest friendship one can possess.

True friendships are distinguished from gratuitous acts since they are just acts of kindness and friendships rely on certain greed from both parties. The friendship can not survive with out a desire of another's acts or personality. This is very different from the gratuitous act which is done merely for the second party's liking. It can be argued however that this is the basis of friendship because of the pleasure you receive when a person thanks you or recognizes

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