ON FRIENDSHIP AND FLOURISHING What we can learn from Aristotle about the role of others in morality…and how that is not the full story of friendship

Abstract

This thesis explores Aristotle’s theory on friendship and his larger ethical system in general from Nicomachean Ethics. Aristotle helps show that our society has largely failed to account for: 1) the well-lived life being that of the moral life, where the focus is on your internal state, being a person of good character; 2) the integral role others play in our morality; 3) the role of friends in morality and the well-lived life in general. Ultimately, we have failed to give friendship its proper due and Aristotle helps fill this void and provide deep thought and discussion about what friendship is and why we need friends.