The Philosophy of Friendship
Assessing Mark Vernon’s views in the book ‘The Philosophy of Friendship’ it can be seen that it showcases a rational look on how man conceives the idea of friendship and the relevant issues surrounding its definition, perspectives and multi-faceted meanings. Specifically, the two reviews made by DeRoo and Stuart seek to highlight important insights concerning its application and how such relationship creates better means for humans to understand reality. With these interplay of ideas, readers get good insights of how Vernon sees the process from its conception towards application.
One important element that can be seen both reviews and Vernon’s book is the aspect of how the idea of defining friendship remains to be shrouded with ambiguity. The aspect of this definition corresponds to multiple levels and meanings the idea of ‘friendship’ has to offer. By examining closely areas of philosophy, morality, and its levels, Vernon was able to portray themes of friendship as it relates to sexuality, norms, politics, love, and transcendence. These diverse elements that seek to help explain friendship then makes the idea of creating a clear-cut definition difficult to achieve.
Similarly, what is appealing about the article is its ability to convey thoughts and ideas concerning the multiple facets of friendship as well as its applications. In a way, Vernon allows readers to explore the dimensions of friendship and relate to how people experience it accordingly. Such ideas can be seen as Vernon tries to relate to readers in each chapter detailing various elements from workplace relations, sexual encounters, and interplay with morality and spirituality. In particular, the book tries to outline how ‘friendship’ is created and becomes deeper as people engage and accept different realities about another.
This process is in a way solidifies the idea of understanding friendship without allowing readers to establish a specific boundary that hampers its range of how it can be applied and analyzed. Reflecting on our reading in the text, it can then be surmised that the knowing the dimensions of friendship would again be varied depending on how an individual responds to the process and to the external elements shaping his/her environment. Likewise, the argument of Vernon indeed holds ground in arguing that ‘friendship’ has an ambiguous ground.
The idea of restricting the definition or process of friendship would only lead to a constricted view or confuse people of what the term stands for. Thus, it is rather important to understand the conditions and themes present in ‘friendship’ as humans relate to the people, environment, and social realities they are in. At the same time, there is a valid point concerning Vernon’s view that some of people’s view concerning ‘friendship’ remains to be construed by constructed personalities or shaped according to how people want it.
Looking at the idea more closely, this process remains to be seen especially with the development of cyberspace and capacity to overcome boundaries with the use of the Internet. Here, the idea of how man engages into relationships and creates associations with other people now become both a mirage of reality and a new way for people to understand friendship. It becomes an illusion because people tend to mistake the idea of friendship over some constructed identities and personalities to make people feel that they belong or are something.
Though this may not be true for all, Vernon was able to concretize this perspective by also justifying how these element help increase the aspect of how the idea of ‘friendship’ can be applied. Due to such scenarios, the aspect of expanding the realm of friendship remains to be seen as individuals increase their ability to associate with others in different levels and perspectives. List of References DeRoo, N ‘The Philosophy of Friendship’, Book Reviews, pp. 520-521 Stuart, E ‘The Philosophy of Friendship’ Theology and Spirituality, pp. 106-107 Vernon, M 2006, The Philosophy of Friendship, Palgrave Macmillan, U. S.
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