Of Utility, Pleasure & Good
In Book VIII of his Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle categorizes three different types of friendship: friendships of utility, friendships of pleasure, and friendships of the good. Friendships of utility are those where people are on cordial terms primarily because each person benefits from the other in some way. Business partnerships, relationships among co-workers, and classmate connections are examples. Friendships of pleasure are those where individuals seek out each other’s company because of the joy it brings. Passionate love affairs, people associating with each other due to belonging to the same hobby organization, and fishing buddies fall into this category. Most important of all are friendships of the good. These are friendships based upon mutual respect, admiration for each other’s virtues, and a strong desire to aid and assist the other person because one recognizes their essential goodness.
Me: I'm glad you are out of the freezer. This article made me think of you.
PJ: Haha thanks
PJ: Is our friendship of utility or pleasure?
PJ: Since i can't see any good out of it? :)
Me: It developed from utility to pleasure and I think we are slowly discovering the good. You have an easier time. but sigh...I have to find harder lor.
PJ: Yah I have slowly found the pleasure in doing the good deeds of befriending the down-trodden
Me: please bless *insert random mutual friend name* with your company then so that you may earn more karma to offset the infinite follies of your youth. I have found pleasure in flattering egos with my company :)
He will be in Singapore (again!) 18 - 27 August.
*
After PJ asked me if our friendship is of utility or pleasure (or implicitly, good), I started popping the same question to a few friends on my msn and I think this takes the cake.
Justin: Part utility and part pleasure.
Me: Tragic!!! No good?
Me: Can't you see my virtuous side??
Justin: Cannot. Likely i'm blinded by your utilitarian and pleasurable aspects.
Me: I'm glad you are out of the freezer. This article made me think of you.
PJ: Haha thanks
PJ: Is our friendship of utility or pleasure?
PJ: Since i can't see any good out of it? :)
Me: It developed from utility to pleasure and I think we are slowly discovering the good. You have an easier time. but sigh...I have to find harder lor.
PJ: Yah I have slowly found the pleasure in doing the good deeds of befriending the down-trodden
Me: please bless *insert random mutual friend name* with your company then so that you may earn more karma to offset the infinite follies of your youth. I have found pleasure in flattering egos with my company :)
He will be in Singapore (again!) 18 - 27 August.
*
After PJ asked me if our friendship is of utility or pleasure (or implicitly, good), I started popping the same question to a few friends on my msn and I think this takes the cake.
Justin: Part utility and part pleasure.
Me: Tragic!!! No good?
Me: Can't you see my virtuous side??
Justin: Cannot. Likely i'm blinded by your utilitarian and pleasurable aspects.
Justin: Hmm, do u see my "virtues" then?
Kitiara: I suddenly dun. Hmmph
Justin: lol
Justin: Come on.
*No reply*
Justin: I go lunch. We can bicker later.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home