Section A07: On the Nature of Friendship
Is it possible to be friends with your cat? How about your dog? How does friendship differ from other kinds of relationships? If there are qualities that make someone a good parent, a good child, a good roommate, or a good romantic partner, are there also qualities that make someone a good friend? What duties or obligations do friends have to each other? In this seminar, we will explore the nature of friendship and its connection to other social relationships. Our texts will include philosophical essays, works of fiction, personal letters and legal documents from a variety of historical periods and from both Western and non-Western perspectives. We will also explore the nature of friendship as depicted in film, painting and sculpture.