The master's thesis Plato and Aristotle on Friendship focuses on the concept of friendship in the ancient world, more precisely on the understanding of friendship in the works of Plato and Aristotle. Both give their own interpretations of the concept. In this assignment, philosophical and ethical implication of the concept of both philosophers are explored. Plato, one of the most influential philosophers of ancient Greece, showed his views on friendship, like everything else, in the context of his dialogues. In these, he considered friendship as a key element of ethical and political life. Plato's concept of friendship is investigated from that perspective, namely through the dialogues Lysis, Phaedrus and Symposium. Aristotle’s conception is also defined through the eighth and ninth books of the Nicomachean Ethics in order to further illuminate the understanding of the mutual bond of friendship. The assignment highlights both similarities and differences in the conception of friendship of the two philosophers. The task also partly focuses on the important role played by philía in relation to friendship. By illuminating the meaning of the latter, the work returns to the concept of friendship. With that, the meaning and value of friendship are investigated, attempting to give the final similarities and differences in how friendship was conceived and valued by the two great philosophers. The assignment pinpoints that Plato did not classify friendship as clearly as Aristotle. With Plato, the idea of true friendship is visible, which originates in moral and spiritual virtues. On the other hand, Aristotle also started from friendly ties, but for him, the ultimate goal of any man is a happy and reasonable life. The work shows that for Plato the main role of friendship is a spiritual connection with a loved and significant other, which at the same time was a guide on the way to the truth. On the other hand, friendship is what gives strength to social ties for Aristotle, which is also of primary importance for a happy life on a personal and social level.
|