Single Idea 5260

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism]

Full Idea

Friendship seems to be the bond that holds communities together, and lawgivers seem to attach more importance to it than to justice.

Gist of Idea

Friendship holds communities together, and lawgivers value it more than justice

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1155a23)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.258


A Reaction

An interesting aspect of the Aristotelian view of society which we now call 'communitarian'. Even lawgivers should be concerned with friendship (how?). There is 'such a thing as society', because friendship networks overlap.