The true meaning of friendship according to Aristotle

Aristotle He was a philosopher, political scientist, teacher, scientist and even a doctor. He is undoubtedly one of the most brilliant minds in the Hellenistic world and constitutes one of the pillars of Western philosophy.

He was born in 384 BC. C. In Stagira, Macedonia, he was one of his disciples Plato At the age of 17 he entered the Academy of Athens, where he remained for 20 years, but then differed from his teacher and established his own school. He wrote nearly 200 works, of which only 31 have survived.

He developed methods and principles that would lead to inventions such as logic. They say that he once said: “I am a friend of Plato, but I am a friend of truth.” Moreover, his theory of knowledge and the inductive system is based on the study of the particular then Showcase your results globallyIt became the first step to what the world later knew as the scientific method.

He defended the idea that men act to achieve a specific goal, essentially happiness. the Friendship For him, it was an important topic, and he said:A loyal friend is a soul in two bodies,” continues to resonate and spark discussion.

What does Aristotle’s phrase “A faithful friend is a soul in two bodies” mean?

Experts point out that the phrase confirms that “when there is sincere friendship, two people feel as if they share the same essence.”

“It means that loyal friends understand our emotions and thoughts so deeply that it seems as if they live inside us,” the specialists delve.

“This connection blurs the barriers between you and me, because what affects one also affects the other,” experts estimate.

Reciprocity between people was also emphasized. It’s not just about receiving support, it’s about giving it just as powerfully. In friendship in Socratic terms, both parties care for and protect each other equally, and there is respect and responsibility Mutual well-being And the joy of each other’s growth.

“This is why the image of ‘one soul in two bodies’ highlights the unity, equality and absolute trust that define truly loyal friends,” they conclude.

Other studies summarize this Aristotle He distinguishes Three types of friendship. “Friendship of utility, friendship of pleasure, friendship of character. Each arises from what the friend values: his usefulness, Enjoy your company Or his good character,” as they say.

They analyze that the philosopherHe is less known for his writings on friendship“Although character-based friendship is its highest form, you can only have a few close friends. It takes a long time to get to know someone’s personality and you have to spend a lot of time together to maintain a friendship like this. “Since time is a limited resource, most friendships will be based on pleasure or utility.”