Handout #9: Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 8.2–6 — Friendship HSPH 102 – Dr.

Tobias Hoffmann

There are three objects worthy of affection (EN 8.2)

The pleasant, the useful, the good
There are three types of friendship (EN 8.3)
Friendship based on the pleasant, on the useful or on the good
The “conditions” for friendship (not in the sense of “fixed conditions” because true friendship
does not impose fixed conditions on the other, cf. 8.13.1162b32–33)
1a) The friends must have good will for one another (8.2)
1b) The friends must wish for the good of the other on the basis of one of the three objects
worthy of affection (8.2)
2a) Their good will must be reciprocated (8.2)
2b) Both must be aware of the other’s good will (8.2)
3) There must be some kind of equality among the friends (8.6.1158b1ff.)
4) Friends must live together (8.5.1157b17–18; cf. 9.12)
Comparison between the types of friendship

Friendship on the basis of the pleasant

Friendship on the basis of the good
& friendship on the basis of the useful
The friends love each other for a good
The friends wish their friends’ good for their
accruing to each other from each other
friends’ sake (8.3.1156b5–10)
(8.3.1156a9–13)
⇒ a friend is loved because he is a friend
⇒ a friend is loved because he is useful or
[= unselfish motive] (8.3.1156a15–17)
pleasant [= selfish motives] (8.3.1156a 15–17)
Useful friendships can be unpleasant In this friendship, all objects worthy of
(8.3.1156a27–28) [⇒ the useful or pleasant affection are contained: the good (for its
friendship does not contain all three objects own sake), the pleasant and the useful
worthy of affection] (8.3.1156b13–14)
These friendships are rare; they need time
It is possible to please many people on the
and familiarity (8.3.1156b25–26); it is
basis of usefulness and pleasantness
impossible to have this friendship with many
(8.6.1158a15–17)
people (8.6.1158a11–12)
These types of friendship can be among bad People who live this friendship are good men
people (8.4.1157a16–17) (8.3.1156b8–9; 8.4.1157a18–19, 30–32)
There is no protection against slander, i.e.
There is mutual trust (8.4.1157a20–25)
there is lack of trust (8.4.1157a20–25)
These we can only call “friendship” on the
This is friendship in the primary and proper
basis of a similarity to the friendship which is
sense of the word (8.4.1157a30–32)
based on the good (8.4.1157a32–33)
These are easily dissolved (8.3.1156a 19–23; This friendship lasts long—as long as the
a32–b5; cf. 8.4.1157a13–15) friends are good (8.3.1156b11–19)

Nota bene: Friendship which is based on pleasure has a closer resemblance to true friendship
than friendship based on usefulness. “There is a greater element of generosity in such
friendships, whereas friendships based on usefulness are for hucksters” (8.6.1158a17–26).