Friendship and justice – Aristotle

According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), friendship must be added to justice. And there is no need for justice when there is friendship.

“When men are friends, justice is not necessary, but when they are just, they still needfriendship.” – Aristotle

Friendship would therefore be a higher value, even more important than justice.

Justice for Aristotle

“Moreover, if citizens practicedfriendship among themselves, they would have no need of justice; but, even supposing them to be just, they would still have need offriendship; and justice, in its point of perfection, seems to take after the nature offriendship.” – Aristotle

Friendship could therefore supplant justice: if there is friendship, there will be justice. In other words, perfect justice approaches friendship.

Aristotle on the lover and the beloved

Aristotle himself begins to compare friendship and justice, with all reservations, by stating:

Friendship is a form of equality comparable to justice. Each returns to the other benefits similar to those he has received. – Aristotle

General Knowledge: justice