Abstract

Both Aristotle and Confucius dealt with the moral virtue of friendship, each one on different grounds and for different reasons. Most contemporary scholars conclude that their views on friendship are quite contrary. In this brief essay I will first outline the differences in the way each one conceives the moral virtue of friendship. Then I will focus on the account of friendship both provide; in particular I will examine whether and in what degree Aristotle and Confucius conceive friendship as a natural and, therefore, necessary bond between men, or as a matter of personal choice; following that I will discuss their views on whether utility-based concerns should be admitted in friendship or not. I will try to prove that beyond the undeniable divergences there are also essential convergences in their views on friendship, especially when it comes to the way they perceive friendship of the good itself.