Exploring Friendship, Past and Present: The Compatibility of Aristotelian Friendships and Friendships on Social Networking Sites (SNSs) Open Access
Seth, Madhavi (2012)
Abstract
Exploring Friendship, Past and Present: The Compatibility of Aristotelian Friendships and Friendships on Social Networking Sites (SNSs)
As they have grown and taken on varied forms within the past decade, Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have become a significant part of an increasingly technologically advancing world, reflected primarily by their popularity and frequent usage, as well as appearance as discussion topics within the news and scholarship. Several news sources highlight the positive and negative attributes of the usage and prevalence of sites like Facebook and Google Plus (G+). Though there is scholarship within the social sciences on this topic, the impact of SNSs on contemporary definitions of friendship has remained an unexplored topic within philosophic literature. Shannon Vallor (2011), however, is one of a handful of scholars in the field who has recently taken up the question of new social media and its relationship to classical Aristotelian notions of friendship. Vallor's article, titled "Flourishing on Facebook: Virtue Friendship and New Social Media," highlights that there is a need for philosophical inquiry into the subject of SNSs and friendship, as these technological innovations have implications for the concept of not only contemporary friendship but human "flourishing" (Vallor, 2011,p 1).
This thesis seeks not only to expand on Vallor's argument that Aristotelian friendships of utility and pleasure are cultivated through SNSs, notably Facebook and G+, but to argue against her claim regarding the cultivation of Aristotelian virtue friendships through SNSs. Particularly, I will argue that, although SNSs do serve to cultivate and promote Aristotelian friendships of utility and pleasure, they do not suffice in facilitating those of character. This is because SNSs are inadequate forums for such friendships as they do not serve in providing the appropriate knowledge associated with the character and moral aptitude of their users.
Table of Contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................1
I. Love, Virtue, and Shared Activity within Virtue
Friendships..............................................................................................................6
A. What makes an Aristotelian friend? Unanimity, Goodwill, and Love
as Characteristics of Aristotelian
Friendships........................................7
B. The Role of Love within Aristotelian
Friendships...........................................................................................................................10
C. The Role of Virtue within Aristotelian
Friendships.........................................................................................................................14
D. The Role of Shared Activity within Aristotelian
Friendships............................................................................................................20
E. The Impact of Love, Virtue, and Shared Activity on Duration of
and Number of Friends within Virtue
Friendships.....................................25
F.
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................................................27
II. Friendship within Social Networking Sites (SNS), notably
Facebook and Google Plus
(G+)...................................................................29
A. The History of Facebook and Google Plus
(G+)...........................................................................................................................30
B. Technical Features of Facebook and Google Plus
(G+).................................................................................................................31
C. Purpose and Effects of SNSs: Enable Easy and Effortless
Networking between
Individuals..................................................................34
D. Purpose and Effects of SNSs: The Creation of a Digital Community
and Promoter of Social
Capital.......................................................37
E. Conclusion: Facebook and Google Plus (G+)'s Definitions of
Friendship............................................................................................39
III: Are Aristotelian Friendships and SNS Friendships Compatible?
Are Friendships of Character cultivated through
SNS?..............................42
A. Points of Compatibility between Aristotelian and SNS Definitions
of
Friendship.................................................................................43
B. Points of Incompatibility between Aristotelian and SNS
Definitions of
Friendship...............................................................................48
C. Conclusion: SNSs Show Potential, but are Limited and
Insufficient in Cultivating Virtue
Friendships.....................................................55
Concluding
Judgments.............................................................................................................................................................56
Works Cited and
Consulted......................................................................................................................................................60
About this Honors Thesis
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Exploring Friendship, Past and Present: The Compatibility of Aristotelian Friendships and Friendships on Social Networking Sites (SNSs) () | 2018-08-28 16:35:34 -0400 |
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Supplemental Files
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Preliminary Pages.doc () | 2018-08-28 16:35:49 -0400 |
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