Aristotle and the Philosophy of Friendship

by Lorraine Smith Pangle

Overview

This comprehensive account of the major philosophical works on friendship and its relationship to self-love emphasizes Aristotle's examination of friendship in the Nicomachean Ethics. Lorraine Pangle argues that the difficulties surrounding this discussion are dispelled as soon as one understands the purpose of the Ethics as both a source of practical guidance for life and a profound, theoretical investigation into human nature. The book provides interpretations of works on friendship by Plato, Cicero, Epicurus, Seneca, Montaigne and Bacon.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521052672
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/29/2008
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.02(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.63(d)
Lexile:	1650L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The challenge of Plato's Lysis; 2. The three kinds of friendship; 3. Aristotle and Montaigne on friendship as the greatest good; 4. Friendships in politics and the family; 5. Cicero's Laelius: political friendship at its best; 6. Quarrels, conflicting claims and dissolutions; 7. Friends as other selves; 8. Goodwill, concord, and the love of benefactors; 9. Self-love and noble sacrifice; 10. Friendship in the happy life; Notes; Bibliography of modern works and editions; Index of names.

Editorial Reviews

"[Pangle's] focus on friendship enables the reader to appreciate more deeply the tensions of political life, virtue, and ultimately the life of philosophy...Aristotle's insights come alive in these pages. She also provides convincing proof that the relationship between teacher and student is the paradigmatic friendship, and we are in debt for her benefaction." Review of Politics

"[G]ood discussions of textual problems..... Recommended." Choice

"A valuable contribution to our undertanding of an important topic, not least because it is willing to take risks by including a wide range of philosophical opinions, and by presenting the author's own views alongside those of Plato, Aristotle, Montaigne and Cicero. It repays careful reading by Classicists, historians of philosophy, and all others interested in learning more about friendship." Classical Bulletin

"Pangle has given us a deeply humane account of Aristotelian ideas...At the same time, Pangle's acute critical intelligence enables her to enrich our understanding of Aristotle's doctrines and to bring to light his argumentative and rhetorical strategies." Ancient Philosophy, Dirk t. D. Held, Connecticut College

From the Publisher