Friendship
By: A.C. Grayling
Series: Vices and virtues
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2013
Language: eng
Number of pages: 229
ISBN-13: 9780300175356
Subjects: Friendship
Description: What is the nature of friendship, and what is its significance in our lives? How has friendship changed since the ancient Greeks began to analyze it, and how has modern technology altered its very definition? In this fascinating exploration of friendship through the ages, one of the most thought-provoking philosophers of our time tracks historical ideas of friendship, gathers a diversity of friendship stories from the annals of myth and literature, and provides unexpected insights into our friends, ourselves, and the role of friendships in an ethical life. A. C. Grayling roves the rich traditions of friendship in literature, culture, art and philosophy, bringing into his discussion familiar pairs as well as unfamiliar - Achilles and Patroclus, David and Jonathan, Coleridge and Wordsworth, Huck Finn and Jim. Grayling lays out major philosophical interpretations of friendship, then offers his own take, drawing on personal experiences and an acute awareness of vast cultural shifts that have occurred.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction -- -- Ideas.; title: The Lysis and Symposium --; title: The classic statement: Aristotle --; title: Cicero De amicitia --; title: Christianity and friendship --; title: Renaissance friendship --; title: From Enlightenment back to the Roman Republic -- -- Legends.; title: Excurses: friendship illustrated -- -- Experiences.; title: Friendship viewed --; title: Friendship examined --; title: The two claims.