Friend or Flatterer

 Both utility and pleasure are included in a relationship that is based in goodness since they want to provide well for each other and want to make each other happy. Youthful relationships can start out for either utility or pleasure. As time goes on and needs become less of an issue or if for whatever reason the pleasure isn't there any more, what is left is their perception of goodness in each other.  It takes time getting to know someone before recognizing a kindred spirit. If this is the case, the relationship is more apt to continue.

Since longevity in friendship is linked to recognizing goodness in another person; what about those with poor character? A person of poor character will look at what is in it for himself and therefore commonality isn't as much as an issue. Friendships can be good regardless of the person's character as long as both parties have the same expectations. If one or the other isn't getting what they want out of it, one will feel the relationship is unjust and it is likely to cease. Since good character is stable and predictable, it will stabilize a relationship in those circumstances. Poor character relationships lack the support of common goodness but it is still possible for them to have long friendships as long as they remain useful to each other.

When we are talking about common goodness, it usually means as good as us. To have someone to be good far beyond us, would cause an inequality. Insecurities can keep two apart also. But if two find they have the same expectations of what is good and desirable there isn't a conflict. Yet we still wouldn't want our friend to become a God and lose accessibility. Sometimes friendships become distant because one or the other becomes better or worse than the other.

People tend to want to be loved more than they want to give love. That is why so many fall prey to flattery. The flatter is someone who wants a favor and is inferior. We confuse love with honor at times. Honor comes from valuing another persons opinion of one's own goodness. There is an expectation of favor involved. Flattery works this way when applied toward good looks. Favor is expected as as a result of the admiration. Love is far more desirable since it is about the exchange of love toward each other in a lasting friendship. This kind of love is more interested in giving as in the case with a mother and her children. If they move on in life, a mother still loves the same and is happy as long as they are doing well.

So we see that character based love solidifies a friendship. We call this getting personal. Personal relationships are the ones we enjoy the most although the degree and amount of them we can have is limited. Once we know someone personally, we feel comfortable and bear our hearts to them. We know they can be trusted and will never hurt us with what we share. This works on a community scale also and is why slander is such a big injustice.

We will examine further how justice is affected by proper friendships. The further away the authority is, the less friendship there can be between citizens and the more it becomes likely that injustices will occur.