4. The forms which friendly feeling
for our neighbors takes, and the marks by which the different forms of friendship are
defined, seem to be derived from the feelings of regard which we entertain for ourselves.
A friend is defined as (a) one who wishes, and promotes by action, the
real or apparent good of another for that other's sake; or (b) one who
wishes the existence and preservation of his friend for the friend's sake. (This
is the feeling of mothers towards their children, and of former friends who have
quarrelled.
1)
Others say that a friend is (c) one who frequents another's society, and
(d) who desires the same things as he does, or (e) one
who shares his friend's joys and sorrows. (This too is very characteristic of
mothers.) Friendship also is defined by one or other of these marks.
2
[
2]
But each of them is also found in a good man's feelings
towards himself (and in those of all other men as well, in so far as they believe
themselves to be good; but, as has been said, virtue and the virtuous man seem to be the
standard in everything).
[
3]
For
(d) the good man is of one mind with himself, and desires the same
things with every part of his nature. Also (a) he wishes his own good,
real as well as apparent, and seeks it by action (for it is a mark of a good man
to exert himself actively for the good) ; and he does so for his own sake
(for he does it on account of the intellectual part of himself, and this appears
to be a man's real self). Also (b) he desires his own life and
security, and especially that of his rational part.
[
4]
For
existence is good for the virtuous man; and everyone wishes his own good: no one would choose to possess every good in the world on
condition of becoming somebody else (for God possesses the good even as it
is),
3 but only while
remaining himself, whatever he may be; and it would appear that the thinking part is the
real self, or is so more than anything else.
[
5]
And
(c) the good man desires his own company; for he enjoys being by
himself, since he has agreeable memories of the past, and good hopes for the future, which
are pleasant too; also his mind is stored with subjects for contemplation. And
(e) he is keenly conscious of his own joys and sorrows; for the same
things give him pleasure or pain at all times, and not different things at different
times, since he is not apt to change his mind.
It is therefore because the good man has these various feelings towards himself, and
because he feels towards his friend in the same way as towards himself (for a
friend is another self) , that friendship also is thought to consist in one or
other of these feelings, and the possession of them is thought to be the test of a friend.
[6]
Whether a man can be said actually to feel friendship for himself is a question that may
be dismissed for the present; though it may be held that he can do so in so far4 as he is a dual or composite being,