Single Idea 23920

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / d. Friendship]

Full Idea

It is possible for a decent person to be friends with a base one.

Gist of Idea

Decent people can be friends with base people

Source

Aristotle (Eudemian Ethics [c.333 BCE], 1238b01)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Eudemian Ethics', ed/tr. Reeve, C.D.C. [Hackett 2021], p.119


A Reaction

This is on the basis of being useful, or of having something in common. Presumably friendship can come in degrees, as well as being of different kinds. Even the finest people can differ a lot, and only have a limited friendship.

Related Ideas

Idea 294 People say that friendship exists only between good men [Plato]

Idea 156 Bad people are never really friends with one another [Plato]