The Egoistic Friend :: essays research papers

<a href="http//www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknins Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web SitesWhat are friends for and how can a friendship be tested? By behaving altruistically, would be the most common answer and by sacrificing ones interests in favour of ones friends. Friendship implies the converse of egoism, both psychologically and ethically. But then we say that the drop behind is "mans best(p) friend". After all, it is characterized by unconditional love, by unselfish behaviour, by sacrifice, when necessary. Isnt this the epitome of friendship? Apparently non. On the one hand, the dogs friendship seems to be uninfluenced by long term calculations of personal benefit. But that is not to say that it is not affected by calculations of a short-term nature. The owner, after all, looks after the dog and is the source of its subsistence and security. People and dogs have been known to have sacrificed their lives for less. The dog is selfish it clings and protects what it regards to be its territory and its property (including and especially so - the owner). Thus, the first condition, seemingly not satisfied by canine attachment is that it be reasonably unselfish. There are, however, more than important conditions a. For a real friendship to exist at to the lowest degree one of the friends must be a conscious and intelligent entity, possessed of mental states. It can be an individual, or a collective of individuals, but in both cases this requirement will similarly apply. b. There must be a minimal level of identical mental states between the terms of the par of friendship. A human being cannot be friends with a tree (at least not in the fullest sense of the word). c. The behaviour must not be deterministic, lest it be interpreted as instinct driven. A conscious choice must be involved. This is a very surprising conclusion the more "reliable", the more "predictable" the less appreciated. S omeone who reacts identically to similar situations, without dedicating a first, let alone a second thought to it his acts would be depreciated as "automatic responses". For a pattern of behaviour to be described as "friendship", these four conditions must be met diminished egoism, conscious and intelligent agents, identical mental states (allowing for the parley of the friendship) and non-deterministic behaviour, the result of constant decision making. A friendship can be and often is tested in view of these criteria.