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.
“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
