Friend or Foe??

One of the many theories Aristotle proposes in books eight and nine of his Nicomachean Ethics is that the immoral, or base person, as he refers to them, is not capable of true friendship. Upon first reading his position on this argument, I must say I didn’t fully agree. I thought that surely, no matter how good or bad an individual is, everyone has the potential to make and keep friendships. However, after watching Aristotle lay the foundation for his belief in what true friendship is, and exposing the reasons why base people cannot experience such, my opinion of the matter changed drastically. Based on Aristotle’s breakdown of what true friendship requires and his theory of what the base person lacks when it comes to such requirements, Aristotle would say that the base cannot attain true friendship.

Before delving into the specifics on why immoral people cannot cultivate such a relationship, it is important to first understand what Aristotle views as the credentials of a real, authentic friendship. Aristotle views friendship as not just a relationship between two individuals, but a necessary virtue for life. He writes; “For friendship is a certain virtue or is accompanied by virtue; and, further, it is most necessary with a view to life; without friends, no one would choose to live, even if he possessed all other goods…”(1155a4-6). He also says friendships have the power to “hold cities together” and that friendship in itself is noble (1155a23; 29-30). He points out further that good friends are beneficial to both young and old when it comes to keeping each other from mistakes, the idea of “two are better than one”(1155a16). This idea rides on the major point Aristotle makes when he says the ideal friendship is based on the fact that good people want only what is good for their friends, and that they would strive to make the relationship pleasant. A good friend would never wish harm or misfortune to their companion. Similarly, he argues that while goodwill is not strictly friendship itself, it is the first ingredient of a successful friendship. He writes, “For goodwill arises even in relation to those whom one does not know without their being aware of it, whereas friendship does not.”(1166b31-32). Those who are filled with goodwill will not only pursue good friendships, but keep the goodwill alive in their relationships (1166b30, 1167a3). In summary, it may be said that Aristotle’s idea of true friendship is a relationship based on goodwill and grounded in the quality of wanting only what is beneficial for his companion.

Aristotle has many strong opinions on what a good friend is, but even more so, he has opinions on what a friend is not, and how those with immoral character cannot attain friendship. One of the first characteristics of the base person he describes is that of an individual who pursues a relationship simply for “utility”, in other words, loving someone only for what they have to offer. He writes that those who love on account of utility feel affection solely for their personal good (156a 15-18). He expands this idea later by giving an example of a borrower and a lender. A lender would not feel love, affection, or goodwill towards the person who was borrowing from him, but would only want him to exist so he could pay back the debt he owed (1167b29-31). Simply put, a base person pursues friendship with himself, his pleasure, and his benefit in mind, not considering the feelings or happiness of his companion. Another mark of false friendship is the use of flattery. As Aristotle points out, many wish to attain honor from others and therefore flatter them with their words, pretending to “love more than he is loved”(1159a17). This is a dangerous mechanism of friendship, as the emptiness of flattery almost always causes strife amongst friends. Yet another shortcoming of the base person is the inverse of flattery: accusation. While the good strive to love their friends as equals, those who base their relationships on utility are prone to falsely accusing their companions. Because the selfish are only concerned with their best interest, they will turn on their companions and falsely accuse them if they feel as though they have been mistreated or have not received that they think they deserve (162b17-19). A final conflict the base possess that keeps them from cultivating true friendship is lacking like-mindedness. One of Aristotle’s biggest arguments on the topic of friendship is that those who are like-minded will be in accord with each other and will therefore build a stronger relationship. Once again, because the base are self-centered, they are not likely to be concerned with the opinions, ideas, and values of others. Aristotle writes; “It is impossible for base people to be like-minded, except to a small degree...their aim is to grasp for more of what is beneficial to them.”(1167b9-12).


In summary, we can say Aristotle views friendship as an essential aspect of life. However, because of the giving and selfless nature of friendship, those who are self-centered are not capable of forming relationships like those who are good. Most everyone longs to have friends, but according to Aristotle, good friendships are a rarity (1156b25). It is when we place our companions before ourselves and take a selfless approach to the relationship that we become capable of a true, lasting friendship.