Single Idea 23916

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 1. Basis of justice]

Full Idea

If one wishes to make it so that people do not commit injustices to each other, it is enough to make them friends; for true friends do not commit injustice.

Gist of Idea

The best cure for mutual injustice is friendship

Source

Aristotle (Eudemian Ethics [c.333 BCE], 1245b28)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Eudemian Ethics', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2021], p.111


A Reaction

This, along with Idea 23915, offers a beautiful vision of what a society should try to achieve. There can be duplicitous apparent friends, but on the whole the best way to cure unjust relations is friendship. Imagine Jews and Arabs being friends (2023).

Related Ideas

Idea 23915 The main function of politics is to produce friendship [Aristotle]

Idea 23919 Friendship cannot be immediate; it takes time, and needs testing [Aristotle]