Single Idea 91

[catalogued under 23. Ethics / A. Egoism / 1. Ethical Egoism]

Full Idea

A man is his own best friend; therefore he ought to love himself best.

Gist of Idea

A man is his own best friend; therefore he ought to love himself best

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1168b09)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.301


A Reaction

Both halves of this sound odd. Being your own best friend has all the oddness of self-identity. Maybe this sort of self-love should be resisted. Altruistic people are lovely.