The Philosophy of Friendship [Hardcover]

In this new accessible philosophy of friendship, Mark Vernon links the resources of the philosophical tradition with numerous illustrations from modern culture to ask what friendship is, how it relates to sex, work, politics and spirituality. Unusually, he argues that Plato and Nietzsche, as much as Aristotle and Aelred, should be put centre stage. Their penetrating and occasionally tough insights are invaluable if friendship is to be a full, not merely sentimental, way of life for today.Acknowledgements Introduction: The Ambiguity of Friendship Friends at Work Friends and Lovers Faking It Unconditional Love Civic Friendship Politics of Friendship The Spirituality of Friendship Conclusion: Philosophy and Friendship Further Reading and References Appendix: Plato and Aristotle on Friendship Index

'Friendship may seem to be both too familiar yet too elusive and ambiguous a topic to consider on its own out of the context of novels or biographies. However, Mark Vernon convincingly refutes this notion and reconsiders the contributions of philosophers from Aristotle and Plato to Nietzsche and Emerson. The result is a wise and accessible discussion of the perils and promise of friendship, providing a beacon of hope to encourage us through the many confusions in our personal lives and suggesting its wider political and spiritual implications. This is definitely philosophy for next Monday morning and it deserves to reach a wide general readership.' - Ray Pahl, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Kent at Canterbury, and author of On Friendship

'Friendship is a subject which has been much neglected by recent philosophy. Mark Vernon's engaging and accessible yet thorough book rediscovers the rich contributions philosophers of the past have made to the subject and shows how these discussions are more relevant today than ever. It is also of much more than theoretical interest, as it illuminates in surprising ways a facet of life important to evlÍ