In response to Lisa...

In response to Lisa Diamond's question, "Do you think friendships are necessary in order to survive? Why or why not?"

The answer to this question depends on your definition of "survive." Can humans survive in the biological sense of being able to physically subsist? To continue to eat, and breathe, and continue brain function? Yes. No one has ever died from not having friends (although, one could argue that lonliness could contribute to or exacerbate thoughts of suicide). However, merely surviving is very different from flourishing as a fully funcioning and mentally/emotionally capable human.

If you were to define "survive" as needing such essential relationships in order to live a healthy, fulfilled life, then yes, I believe friendship is necessary. Human beings are naturally social creatures. I relate this to Aristotle's belief that "human nature reaches its full development only when we live as members of an organized society" (96). Humans desire contact and connection with other human beings. Every human craves love and the feeling of being wanted, needed, and understood by others, and having friends satisfies these needs. Humans would be hollow and conventionally disfunctional without some form of friend or companionship, whether it be within one's family or with anyone else.