Types of Friendship
Genuine friendship is a rare jewel and it occurs in one single situation, find out about the 3 different types of friendship!
Aristotle makes a distinction between what he believes to be real friendship and other more artificial forms of friendship, based on mutual usefulness or on pleasure. According to the great philosopher, genuine friendship does not end whereas the other two types, the one based on pleasure and the one based on usefulness, are likely to end when there is no more utility or pleasure involved. 'And it is those who desire the good of their friends for the friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves the other for what he is, and not for any incidental quality'.
Friendship can be considered a virtue that is essential for living. It is generally accepted truth that nobody would ever choose to live without any friends, even if they had all the other necessary things in life. Nonetheless, the views on friendship may diverge. Thus, some consider that it involves the factor of similarity, whereas other think that on the contrary, differences make us interested in friendship with others.
One could say that there are three types of friendship. First of all, there is friendship based on usefulness. But utility is not a permanent thing, it changes according to circumstances. So, when the foundation for friendship disappears, the friendship is also shattered, it may end. Such kind of friendship is likely to take place between old people and middle aged people, because the elderly do not pursue pleasure but usefulness, whereas the younger ones are looking for their own advantages. They are not interested in spending time together first of all because they usually do not have mutual likings, and the reason why they enjoy each other's company so to say, is that they may profit from it. Such friendships are generally the ones with foreigners.
The second type of friendship is the one which is based on pleasure. This usually occurs between young people, because the youth are likely to coordinate their lives depending on their feelings, and they are known to seize the moment and search for pleasure. But with growing years, they may change in tastes, so what pleasures them may also change, and therefore their friendships too. Young people also tend to fall in love quickly, because erotic type of friendship is the one which is most based on feelings and pleasure. However, young people's view on their friendships may change rapidly even within the very same day. Nonetheless, young people like to spend a lot of time together, even live together, because that is how they can attain their friendship's object, which is pleasure.
The basis for genuine friendship is goodness. So perfect friendship requires both friends to be good and genuine. It is because such people are good in themselves and desire the good of others. Like in the other two cases, friendship lasts as long as its ground is valid and sustainable, therefore, as long as the two friends remain good. Goodness is a lasting quality, so this type of friendship is meant to last. They also enjoy each other's company, because good people are similar to each other and therefore they like having each other around. So the element of pleasure is also involved in this kind of relationship. It is a permanent state, because such friendship incorporates all the qualities true friends should have. Be it relative or absolute, the object of each friendship is pleasure and acquiring something good and it is founded on similarity of spirit and personality. The differing element here is that all the qualities mentioned above are to be found within the friends' spirits, since "great minds think alike".
Being good and pleasant due to one's goodness is the most lovable of human qualities. So genuine friendship and love are to be found mostly in good people. It is the goodness of one's spirit that ensures the quality of that person's relationships, and the type of friends that person is most likely to attract. This is nothing but another way of saying the popular proverb: birds of a feather flock together. But the thing is, only genuinely good and disinterested people can become genuinely good friends, in the highest sense and form.
It may well happen that in the most difficult of times you won't have anyone beside you, but never forget that humans are sons and daughters of God, if they want to - that is if they know God and Jesus Christ His Son - so with Such a friend like God Himself one is "doomed" to life to the maximum of fulfillment in every situation! Any man, rich or poor, can find the real ultimate friend: God Himself! May we all be and enjoy the company of genuine friends!
Friendship can be considered a virtue that is essential for living. It is generally accepted truth that nobody would ever choose to live without any friends, even if they had all the other necessary things in life. Nonetheless, the views on friendship may diverge. Thus, some consider that it involves the factor of similarity, whereas other think that on the contrary, differences make us interested in friendship with others.
One could say that there are three types of friendship. First of all, there is friendship based on usefulness. But utility is not a permanent thing, it changes according to circumstances. So, when the foundation for friendship disappears, the friendship is also shattered, it may end. Such kind of friendship is likely to take place between old people and middle aged people, because the elderly do not pursue pleasure but usefulness, whereas the younger ones are looking for their own advantages. They are not interested in spending time together first of all because they usually do not have mutual likings, and the reason why they enjoy each other's company so to say, is that they may profit from it. Such friendships are generally the ones with foreigners.
The second type of friendship is the one which is based on pleasure. This usually occurs between young people, because the youth are likely to coordinate their lives depending on their feelings, and they are known to seize the moment and search for pleasure. But with growing years, they may change in tastes, so what pleasures them may also change, and therefore their friendships too. Young people also tend to fall in love quickly, because erotic type of friendship is the one which is most based on feelings and pleasure. However, young people's view on their friendships may change rapidly even within the very same day. Nonetheless, young people like to spend a lot of time together, even live together, because that is how they can attain their friendship's object, which is pleasure.
The basis for genuine friendship is goodness. So perfect friendship requires both friends to be good and genuine. It is because such people are good in themselves and desire the good of others. Like in the other two cases, friendship lasts as long as its ground is valid and sustainable, therefore, as long as the two friends remain good. Goodness is a lasting quality, so this type of friendship is meant to last. They also enjoy each other's company, because good people are similar to each other and therefore they like having each other around. So the element of pleasure is also involved in this kind of relationship. It is a permanent state, because such friendship incorporates all the qualities true friends should have. Be it relative or absolute, the object of each friendship is pleasure and acquiring something good and it is founded on similarity of spirit and personality. The differing element here is that all the qualities mentioned above are to be found within the friends' spirits, since "great minds think alike".
Being good and pleasant due to one's goodness is the most lovable of human qualities. So genuine friendship and love are to be found mostly in good people. It is the goodness of one's spirit that ensures the quality of that person's relationships, and the type of friends that person is most likely to attract. This is nothing but another way of saying the popular proverb: birds of a feather flock together. But the thing is, only genuinely good and disinterested people can become genuinely good friends, in the highest sense and form.
It may well happen that in the most difficult of times you won't have anyone beside you, but never forget that humans are sons and daughters of God, if they want to - that is if they know God and Jesus Christ His Son - so with Such a friend like God Himself one is "doomed" to life to the maximum of fulfillment in every situation! Any man, rich or poor, can find the real ultimate friend: God Himself! May we all be and enjoy the company of genuine friends!
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