Book 9 / Chapter 9
Paragraph 3 - The Necessity of Friends for Happiness
Explanation - Part By Part
"But that is surely not true. For we have said at the outset that happiness is an activity; and activity plainly comes into being and is not present at the start like a piece of property."
Aristotle is rejecting the idea that a supremely happy person doesn’t need friends. He reminds us that happiness is not something static or fixed, like owning an object or property that simply exists once acquired. Instead, happiness is a way of living—it’s an activity, something that unfolds and is continuously expressed through our actions and interactions. Happiness isn’t a finished product you can possess; it’s an ongoing process of being and doing.
"If (1) happiness lies in living and being active, and the good man's activity is virtuous and pleasant in itself, as we have said at the outset, and (2) a thing's being one's own is one of the attributes that make it pleasant, and (3) we can contemplate our neighbours better than ourselves and their actions better than our own,"
Aristotle is laying out a series of points to build his argument about why even the happiest and most virtuous person still needs friends. Here's what these points mean:
1. Happiness comes from living and being active: Aristotle has previously defined happiness (eudaimonia) as not just a static state, but as an active process—living well and engaging in virtuous actions. It's about the choices we make and the activities we participate in, not just possessing something.
2. Things are more enjoyable when they’re personal: Aristotle is saying here that something becomes more pleasant and meaningful when it belongs to us. For example, achieving something through your own efforts feels more fulfilling than merely witnessing someone else do it. That personal connection holds significant value.
3. We observe others more easily than ourselves: Humans are naturally better at noticing and understanding other people’s actions and behaviors than reflecting on their own. This is partly because it's easier to see outward actions than to fully grasp our own internal motivations or judge ourselves objectively.
These three points are like puzzle pieces that Aristotle will use to explain why friendships involving virtuous individuals play a crucial role, even for those who are already living a fulfilling life. Friendship, for him, allows us to reflect on virtue and happiness in a way that enriches our own existence.
"and if the actions of virtuous men who are their friends are pleasant to good men (since these have both the attributes that are naturally pleasant),-"
In this part, Aristotle is pointing out that the actions of virtuous people who are friends with a good person are naturally enjoyable for that good person to witness. Why? Because these actions combine two qualities that humans are naturally drawn to: they come from virtue (they reflect goodness and moral excellence), and they belong to someone the good person cares about (the friend). So, for a virtuous individual, seeing their friend's virtuous actions isn’t just satisfying—it aligns with their deepest values and brings joy.
It emphasizes the idea that virtuous friendships provide a unique kind of pleasure: one that is both moral and personal.
"if this be so, the supremely happy man will need friends of this sort, since his purpose is to contemplate worthy actions and actions that are his own, and the actions of a good man who is his friend have both these qualities."
Aristotle is arguing that even the happiest, most virtuous person still needs friends—not because they are useful or merely provide pleasure, but because they enable the good life through meaningful companionship and shared virtue. A truly happy person values noble actions and reflection upon those actions. Friends who are also virtuous give the happy person the ability to observe and appreciate both their own moral excellence and that of their friends, creating a shared life of goodness.
In other words, true friendship amplifies happiness because it allows the virtuous person to witness, enjoy, and reflect upon virtuous actions in others who share their moral values. This deepens their connection to their own virtuous life and provides the mutual encouragement and support needed to live out a life of meaning and goodness.