📄 Abstract
Human beings are by their very nature social creatures. The human soul is partly rational and partly emotional. Thus, interpersonal relationships or friendships play a significant role in the overall happiness and well-being of man. Let it be on a personal or professional sphere; friendship is one of the essential aspects of human life. Therefore, it is undoubtedly one of the essential virtues required for the Good Life. But with the rise of social media and other platforms the notion of friendship has undergone various changes and it also raises significant ethical issues like; are those online friendships genuine? Can we truly call our online friends our “real friends”? What are the elements responsible for a real friendship? From ancient times various philosophers have dealt the concept of friendship but the contribution of Aristotle is especially pivotal as he has given a systematic account of friendship in such a way that it harmoniously coincides with his overall philosophical system. His special treatment of virtue in his theory of friendship is particularly unique and very much original. This paper aims to explore the nature of friendship, it’s types and the two different conceptions of friendship with their practical relevance. By presenting a critical account of friendship the aim is to provide an idea regarding the form of friendship that can contribute to a healthy, happy and value driven society.
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📚 How to Cite:
Radhashyam Mishra, Kabita Das , TWO CONCEPTIONS OF FRIENDSHIP: VIRTUE & VIRTUAL , Volume 12 , Issue 8, August 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 704 - 707 , DOI: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra31336