On Social Contract

Aristotle in Book VIII discusses the importance of friendship within a society and asserts that those in a society must be friends for that society to succeed. He states that “when people are friends there is no need of justice, but when they are just there is still need of friendship” (VIII, 1155a, 26-27). Friendship acts as a replacement for justice in lasting societies, so that it becomes an alternative mechanism of equity. I have mixed feelings about his assertion.

First, I do believe that some sort of friendship must be necessary in these societies because justice alone will not motivate the people to act properly toward one another, except for fear of punishment. After all, as Barry Goldwater once said, “you can’t legislate morality.” A city of friends will be more peaceful, more equal, and more stable because the citizens respect the laws that are made by one another.

However, I do not think that it is necessary to have true friendship; but instead, a friendship of use will suffice for as long as the city exists. There are three reasons that people make a political union: fear of loss (having property/life unprotected), anticipation of gain (as in closer trade), or by the force of a higher power. The first two of these will form a social contract among the members for the good of all. This is made, in my opinion, out of selfish reasons and a friendship of use. Because the “use” of protection and wealth applies to all parties somewhat equally, the society will last peaceably. Everyone’s selfish interests for a blend of liberty and security work together to form one, common system of laws for the good of all. Although there is a benefit for all parties, that benefit to one’s countrymen is just a byproduct of personal benefits. This union is only a friendship of use that is relatively stable because the uses of safety, wealth, and defense in a society do not ever disappear. Thus, true friendship based on virtue is probably not necessary for this type of political union.