Friendship, Catholicism, Philosophy

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What does Catholicism/Philosophy have to say about friendship?

I am leaving this very open-ended because I am interested in a variety of experiences and interpretations. Also because I have many questions myself.

A couple of observations from me:

There is the Buddhist notion of ‘right association.’ Do Catholics have a similar notion?

Curious in the frozen north.
 
I think the Church would probably have to go with Aristotle, on friendship.
Aristotle argues that friends can be viewed as second selves. Just as virtuous behavior improves oneself, friends can improve each other–this is the importance of friendship, and the reason it may be regarded as a type of virtue. The success or failure of a friend can be like one’s own success or failure. Aristotle divides friendships into three types, based on the motive for forming them: friendships of utility, friendships of pleasure and friendships of the good.
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicomachean_Ethics#Books_8_and_9:_Friendship

Full text:

constitution.org/ari/ethic_08.htm
 
Thanks for this mschrank. Ari speaks of virtue. What kind of virtues attract virtuous friends? What are people’s experiences of this? How has friendship with Jesus affected people’s other friendships?
 
C.S. Lewis lists Friendship as one of the four loves. Essentially, the friend is a co-appreciator of a certain aspect of God’s glory on Earth.
 
Ani_Ibi said:
What does Catholicism/Philosophy have to say about friendship?

I am leaving this very open-ended because I am interested in a variety of experiences and interpretations. Also because I have many questions myself.

A couple of observations from me:

There is the Buddhist notion of ‘right association.’ Do Catholics have a similar notion?

Curious in the frozen north.
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I hope the following is helpful to you. Along with the absolutes, love of God and love of neighbor, Catholics are given many lessons to help them along the way. One of the great ones given at the time of my childhood was this: Avoid the near occasion of sin. Meaning: avoid events, thoughts, actions and PEOPLE who might be likely to draw you into sinful behavior. Such a teaching makes one very aware of who is likely to become a true friend.

We are called to step outside the norm of our “natural affections” and consider (philosophically) who might be a threat to our faith rather than a friend to it.
 
catharina said:
…We are called to step outside the norm of our “natural affections” and consider (philosophically) who might be a threat to our faith rather than a friend to it.
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Cool. How does one balance avoidance of those who would threaten our faith with carrying the Light of Jesus to unbelievers? Not disagreeing with you per se, but Jesus did consort with taxcollectors, fallen women, and various other sinners. In fact everyone around him were sinners. And we are asked to follow him.
 
Ani_Ibi said:
Cool. How does one balance avoidance of those who would threaten our faith with carrying the Light of Jesus to unbelievers? Not disagreeing with you per se, but Jesus did consort with taxcollectors, fallen women, and various other sinners. In fact everyone around him were sinners. And we are asked to follow him.
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Consort is sort of a loaded word, but yes, Jesus did spend time with sinners. I don’t recall that He called them “friends.” He brought truth to sinners and we are to do the same. We are not to find our friends among those who are involved in serious sin without reservation; we might form many friendships in life that begin with sharing the good news of God and His love for us through the coming of Jesus Christ. Other relationships might drop by the wayside if “friends” are more interested in following sin than in living their lives in a way that exhalts God.
 
Ani_Ibi said:
Cool. How does one balance avoidance of those who would threaten our faith with carrying the Light of Jesus to unbelievers? Not disagreeing with you per se, but Jesus did consort with taxcollectors, fallen women, and various other sinners. In fact everyone around him were sinners. And we are asked to follow him.
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Your fist obligation is to yourself. Jesus wasn’t going to fall into a life of sin by spending time with said sinners. If you would, avoid them until you wouldn’t.
 
BlaineTog said:
C.S. Lewis lists Friendship as one of the four loves. Essentially, the friend is a co-appreciator of a certain aspect of God’s glory on Earth.
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Hello Blaine, Can you tell me what the fourth love is, according to CS Lewis? In his encyclical Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict mentions three kinds of love: eros, philia, and agape. I read CS Lewis’ The Four Loves quite some time ago and was trying to rack my brains as to what the fourth kind of love was that he mentions.
 
The “fourth” love as you put it, is actually the “first”, lowest form of love. It’s called “storge” which refers to natural affection, which is found not only in humans but also in animals.

When my puppy jumps on me and licks me when I come home from work, that’s storge.
 
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