The first Discussion piece of this Blog is on the idea of what truly fuels the idea of friendship. And friendship in this discussion, is someone who is going to be an integral part of one's life, a 'true' friend so to speak. It must be noted that one has no intention to firmly state that the views of the writings to come are true in all Logic. It is just intended as a opinion and with opinion, a idea to discuss and get a better grasp on the topic at hand.
The author believes that the core idea of friendship is grounded in the virtue of sincerity but disagrees on how most view how friendship is to be judged. It seems usually the emphasis or burden of friendship is grounded in the opposing person rather than the self. That the person is a friend to another in how he/she places values or personal well being in contrast to you or another. Rather one argues that it is in his opinion, that friendship's burden is to be placed on the self. In other words, one finds true friendship in selfish means. This being said, does that not mean logically that one has contradicted himself in friendship being grounded in sincerity over gain. In essence no, as what is more sincere than a person acting towards the natural instinct of the self. Thus, to better understand the selfish means of friendship, let's explain further.
To begin, a case scenario. Assuming God (who or whatever manifestation you choose) is real and he/she tells you that Greg is not going to produce any difference in your life and in fact when you meet him, you will feel rather bored but his sincerity in being your friend is true. Would you still want to be friends with Greg? Remember that the sense of friendship discussed here is a true sense of friendship, one you regard as someone who will be a integral part in your life. One has to say, the answer is mostly No, and with good reason. The reason why one becomes friends in one's humble view, is the sense of benefit one gains from the other. In a more publicly acceptable view, the other person makes you a better person in a moral and material sense.
From this benefit will come a sense of sincerity from you, as why would one ever give up anything that produces happiness to the self. And not to be mistaken to the negative connotation of the word selfish. The benefits one can gain are things as non material as the person does nothing more than make you laugh or perhaps the person is someone you can really trust with your most intimate problems. Not that he/she is a problem solver that can help you with your problems. There is then a sense of mutual benefit and both can prosper and grow under the tutelage of each others strong points. Thus it comes back to sincerity, and it has been achieved reasonably. As there is no reason not to be sincere to this friend. It is only when said friend abuses the rewards of which this mutual benefit is based, does problems arise in the friendship.
In conclusion, it is in the hopes that one reads into the ideas written with a open mind and try to understand that the author's is merely sharing his view on what fuels friendship at it's core. And on a side note, to say that most of life's great questions start with the self and it is only with the understanding of one's own motivations, that one can truly be happy. The result being as Warren Buffett put it very well in a BBC documentary, when you look in the mirror in the morning, the reflection is smiling back.
Till next word...
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