25th Annual Student Research Conference
Meditations on the Nature of Friendship
Matthew T. Helis
Dr. David Murphy, Faculty Mentor
When we talk about human nature what we're really talking about is what it means to be a human. If this is the case, then it seems to me that the best way to understand human nature is to examine the human experience and look for constants present amongst all people. One of these constants seems to be the idea of friendship. How do we qualify friendship though? The concept of friendship seems to refer to more than just a type of relationship or a specific emotion. Through the analysis of works by Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and many others regarding friendship, I have come to the conclusion that the compound nature of friendship is indicative of what I've decided to call a consciousness template; a sort of filter laid over our perceptions and thought processes that helps govern our overall human experience and shapes our essential nature as humans.
Keywords: Philosophy, Human Nature, Conciousness Studies
Topic(s):Philosophy & Religion
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 208-4
Location: MG 1000
Time: 10:15