Inequality in friendship: social dynamics and disparities

Philosophers

According to Aristotle, can Friendship Exist between Unequals?

According to Book 8, Chapter 7, Aristotle does believe that friendship can exist between unequals. Although he does believe friendships can exist between people whom he defines as unequals, their friendship would have some inherent limitations. It is clear from this chapter that Aristotle believes that adult males are the most superior people within a society. He makes clear divisions regarding equality with specific regard to age, sex, and position within the familial hierarchy. All of his ideas are coming from the perspective of an adult male in prime age. He is speaking from this perspective to others with this perspective -- which is to say his audience seems to be primarily adult men who occupy positions of power. In this chapter, Aristotle describes several hypothetical unequal friendships. He begins by describing the parties within each unequal friendship, continuing to describe the nature of each friendship, and offers comparisons among the example friendships. He then uses these ideas to conclude the chapter with thoughts regarding justice and equality within all friendships, whether between equals or otherwise.

Again, overall, Aristotle's arguments confirms that friendships among unequals is quite possible. He warns that because the parties are not equal, that they cannot provide the same needs or functions as the other person, which is an aspect of the friendship. For example, he argues that there can be friendship between a husband and a wife; he views women to be inferior. He contends that the wife is not the same as the husband; she cannot do the same things he can do, therefore he should not want those things from her, nor expect her to function for him the same way he functions for her. The love and friendship the husband has for the wife is different from the love and friendship the wife has for the husband. That love and friendship still very much exists between them, but it is different and unequal because they are unequal as parts of a socially stratified society. Aristotle makes a similar argument regarding the unequal friendship between a father and a son.

The chapter upon friendship between unequals ends on an interesting note. The focus shifts somewhat to the topic of justice within friendships in general, and the question of justice within unequal relationships. In this section, Aristotle digs deeper into his question (and his answer) to whether or not there can exist friendship between unequals. Here, he begins to consider how justice and equality would exist in proportions in friendships among unequals. Ultimately, there is not a hopeful tone to the end of this line of thinking. It seems that while friendships among unequals can exist within certain parameters, they are often doomed, or at least have a definitive time limit to their existence.