The Role Of Friendship In The Nichomachean Ethics

The Nichomachean Ethics (Books 8 and 9) Friendship is a big word, but what exactly is the definition of it? What kinds of people consist of your friends? How do we establish this kind of relationship with someone? As a human being, I find myself surrounded with other human beings whom I call friends. Aristotle recognized and understood the meaning of friendship in his books VIII and IX in The Nichomachean Ethics. In this paper, I will layout what Aristotle had to say about friendship and put emphasis on the importance of friendship for me which requires commitment, trust, loyalty and love. Aristotle had said, “…distance does not break off friendship absolutely, but only the activity of it. But if the absence is lasting, it seems actually to make men forget their friendship; hence the saying ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ (VIII, 199-200). Aristotle was saying that more often than not, people who do keep physical contact with each other have a better chance of staying friends compared to people who do not. I am acknowledging what Aristotle had said.
It was hard staying in touch with them because of the distance and the time differences that separated us. They were growing closer together while I was feeling that I was falling behind them. They have a lot to talk about to each other while I only have limited things to say. On top of that, the fact that they are changing and moving on with what they had to do regarding life in general affected our friendship the most, for the reason that I was not there to change with them. I felt like I was losing them slowly and it was rather painfully. However, we all made an effort to keep our friendship