Analiza i Egzystencja

IS NOT THE ETHICAL FRIENDSHIP THE APPARENT FRIENDSHIP?– INTERPRETATIONS OF THE EUDEMIAN ETHICS 1237B6–7SummaryIn The Eudemian Ethics 1237b6–7 Aristotle seems to suggest that if the ethicalfriend has an unpleasant odour, he is left by his friend. The article is devoted todemonstrating that the ethical friendship is not the apparent friendship. For thispurpose author presents the characteristics of the true friend and distinguishes twotypes of the ethical friendship, the first between good men, i.e. men with a typicalmixture of good and bad traits of character, the second between noble men, i.e.the best men who are heroes of intellect and character – intellect because prudent,character because noble.On this basis author shows three interpretations which neutralize controversialstatement. According to the first interpretation – called “superhuman stink” – unpleasantodour is impossible to endure for the men, even good or noble. Thereforeethical friend must leave his friend in such circumstances. According to the secondinterpretation – called “one-dimensional courage” – ethical friend, who has anunpleasant odour is left by ethical friend, since one, who leaves can not endurestinking friend. The reason is that he has one-dimensional courage and apart fromdirect hostilities he does not cope with own weakness. According to the third interpretation– called “heroic solitude” – ethical friend, who has an unpleasant odourdoes not want to grieve his friend. Therefore decides to heroic solitude – heroic,since a human being is a civic being and one whose nature is to live with others– and leaves his friend.