In Lewis' famous work The Four Loves, he discusses the four fundamental forms of love, and what they entail. In this post I am opting to discuss friendship, and how it ties in with ontology. Lewis writes:
"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like are, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival" (p. 71).
From a purely evolutionary standpoint, friendship is utterly meaningless. However, to approach it from an ontological standpoint it has so much value. It's power is almost incommunicable, yet Lewis has a fine attempt. Friendships are a lot like stories. Although on the surface they do not seem to reveal much about epistemology, everyone can acknowledge that they certainly have a place in our existence. Friendships can also be exclusive. Lewis warns that friends run the risk of "regarding themselves as an elite because they are already attached" (p. 83). This can be dangerous for others in society, yet in terms of friendship no one can be perturbed at another for having close friends. Lewis also writes that friendship is ambivalent. "It makes good men better and bad men worse" (p. 80). It accentuates our original disposition toward one another. Good friends can restore and refresh us. They bring about who we really are and reaffirm our identity. There is a danger here as well. If we place too much emphasis on them, they can destroy us. This is why there are three other loves. Friendship has a place, but it cannot be the end all be all. There is also eros, affection, and charity. Charity being the greatest of these. Hopefully our friendships carry charity with them wherever they go. "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13).
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