ETHICS

Aristotle is continuing his explanation of the types of friendship. He's saying that "bad men" (those who lack moral virtue or goodness) tend to form friendships based on selfish reasons—either for personal pleasure or because the other person is useful in some way. These friendships are centered on what they can get out of the relationship, rather than any deep or genuine bond.

In contrast, "good men" (those who are virtuous and moral) form friendships not because of what they can gain but because of who the other person is. These friendships are based on mutual respect and appreciation of each other's goodness, which makes them the highest form of friendship. Essentially, good men value each other for their character and integrity, and this purity of intention makes their friendships more meaningful and enduring.

In this part, Aristotle is making a distinction between true friendship ("friends without qualification") and other types of relationships that may resemble friendship but aren't the same in essence. True friendship, according to Aristotle, is rooted in genuine care for the other person's character and goodness—it exists for the sake of the person themselves, not because of any secondary benefit like pleasure or utility.

On the other hand, the "incidental" friendships he mentions are based on something external to the person's character—like enjoying someone's company because they're fun (pleasure) or because they provide some kind of practical benefit (utility). These types of relationships may resemble true friendship from the outside, but the bond is not as deep or enduring because it depends on external factors, not on a mutual appreciation of each other's moral goodness. Essentially, they are "friendships by coincidence" rather than friendships of true substance.