The Symbolism Of Friendship In Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

In the Nicomachean Ethics, it seems odd that Aristotle emphasizes friendship so much, placing it above justice, spending more time on it than on any of the moral virtues, and stating that “[a]nyone who is to be happy… will need virtuous friends” (Nicomachean Ethics IX.9.1170b). Compared to the lofty virtues that Aristotle discusses in the rest of the Nicomachean Ethics, like justice, friendship seems markedly less essential for a happy life. It is easy to see friendship as a result of man’s social nature and desire to find people with whom to live life. Immediately after Aristotle begins to discuss friendship, he mentions the natural, animalistic part of friendship as a central reason for why friendship is a necessity in life (NE VIII.1.1155a).