Study Guide

The Nicomachean Ethics Book 8, Chapter 6 (1158a1-1158b11)

By Aristotle

Book 8, Chapter 6 (1158a1-1158b11)

Young people make friends quickly, but it's mostly good will rather than complete friendship that happens in such cases.
We have to invest a lot of time and affection in a true friendship, so it's not possible to have lots of this type of friend at once.
It's easier to engage in relationships that are merely useful or pleasant. On the upside, "pleasant" friendships are more like proper friendships.
They at least have the "delight in each other" part down—and these kinds of friends may even have things in common.
Also, pleasant friends are necessary even to the fortunate, who certainly do not need useful friends.
People in power tend to go for the useful and pleasant friendships. Aristotle quips that their friends are often not both at the same time.
They surround themselves with the witty and snarky, but rarely with truly good people.
Aristotle addresses the need for equality in a friendship. A good person and a powerful person aren't usually friends—unless the powerful one is also virtuous. This almost never happens.
Equality in friendship also involves how each person loves the other and wishes them well. If one party isn't equally good, he must bring something else to the relationship.
These types of friendships walk the line between faux friendship and complete friendship. They aren't as stable in the face of challenges as complete friendship.