Thank you, Ela Özcan, for a very important question. First, what is it for two people – any two people, regardless of their genders – to be friends? This is a slippery question, with many different answers. But among these answers seem to be three common threads. First, friends must care about each other for […]
Can men and women be just friends? Read More
Thank you George Foster for this great question! In order to give you the best answer, it would be wise to turn to people who knew a thing or two about having a good time with their buddies: the ancient Greeks. There is probably no better reference in matters of friendship than Aristotle, who distinguished
Is quid pro quo a good basis for friendship? Read More
Thank you, Gnanak Gerhardson Munnangi, for a great question! Although it may seem a bit distrusting to consider the motives of someone seeking your friendship, doing so may reveal a lot about yourself. When I saw this question, I was tempted to say that in a friendship I would like caring and understanding, as well
What are your expectations from a person who wants to be your friend? Read More
Thank you, Kenneth Cañedo, for this question. I think this is a great question to ask in times of quarantine and self-isolation. Many of us have been forced to spend more time with ourselves than usual, and more than we would have ever intended to otherwise. In these moments, when we are all alone, it
Is it possible for you to be friends with yourself? Read More
Thank you, Alex Impey, for such a weighty question. Being in love and loving – that is, romantic love and non-romantic kinds of love – seem to overlap in astonishing ways: both share features such as attachment, attraction, warmth, and interest. That said, being in love certainly feels different to loving – why is that?
What’s the difference between loving someone and being in love with someone? Read More
Do I bear the responsibility of my friend’s ‘soul’? I mean: Am I good only if I keep my friend on a good way? Can I be good while letting my friend turn to the dark way? Thank you, Levente CsTóth, for such a thoughtful question. There are two questions at play here. It will
What makes someone a good friend? Read More
