Single Idea 7094

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

Full Idea

Being a good friend means acting in ways that express the friendship even when those ways do not promote overall utility.

Gist of Idea

Friends express friendship even when no utility is involved

Source

Daniel Statman (Introduction to Virtue Ethics [1997], §3)

Book Reference

'Virtue Ethics', ed/tr. Statman,Daniel [Edinburgh 1997], p.11


A Reaction

This implies that friendship is a true virtue of character, rather than having friends just being an 'external' good. Having friends is good; being friends is a virtue. There are duties of friendship.