Redefining Relationships

Vernon summarizes Aristotle’s paradoxical description of soul friendship as the following:

Close friendship requires an individual to possess a greater range of qualities than just a fulsome capacity for reciprocal goodwill. It requires a proper sort of self-regard—the kind that allows the individual to get over themselves; and a wider love of life itself—so that the individual is capable of pursuing interests that are not their own (p. 252).

In this week’s reading material, the following philosophers discuss their views on this topic: Socrates, Plato, Emerson, Aristotle. Make sure to incorporate their views as you answer each discussion question. Think about how their views may be similar or different from your own. In at least 350 words total, please answer each of the following, drawing upon your reading materials and your personal insight. Please be sure that you do not provide names of people or identifying characteristics of the workplace.

Cicero (2014).  De Amicitia – On Friendship (Links to an external site.). Retrieved from http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_cic_friendship.htm

Vernon, M. (2010). The Meaning of Friendship. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

• Describe what it might mean to hold oneself in “proper” self-regard and also to “get over oneself”? How is it possible to inhabit these seemingly contradictory roles? What are some examples you can share from your own life?
• Why might it be important to have a “wider love of life itself’” in order to experience a true and meaningful friendship?