Aristotle and the Philosophy of Friendship

by Lorraine Smith Pangle

• ISBN13: 9780521052672
• ISBN10: 052105267X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-04
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

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 Aristotles 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.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The challenge of Platos Lysis

The three kinds of friendship

Aristotle and Montaigne on friendship as the greatest good

Friendships in politics and the family

Ciceros Laelius: political friendship at its best

Quarrels, conflicting claims, and dissolutions

Friends as other selves

Goodwill, concord, and the love of benefactors

Self-love and noble sacrifice

Friendship in the happy life

Notes

Bibliography of modern works and editions

Index of names

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.