Virtues of Character

Aristotle names several specific virtues of character including bravery, friendliness, generosity, magnanimity, and magnificence. Each of these is a mean between to extremes, one an excess of the virtue and one a deficiency in it. They are all specific to a certain character trait, but are all alike in that they are the same kind of intermediate state.

Friendship

Friendship is an equal relationship between two virtuous people who wish well for the other for that other person's sake alone. Friendship can exist between unequal people, but it must be balanced by the amount of love passed between the two. A king and his subject can have friendship, but the king must receive more love than he gives for the friendship to be balanced. Some relationships that are called friendship are actually based on usefulness or pleasure, Aristotle says, and are not truly friendships. Unlike...