Friendship and the Moral Life

by Paul J. Wadell C.P.

Friendship and the Moral Life is not simply a theoretical argument about how moral theology might be done if it took friendship more seriously. Rather, the book exhibits how without friendship, our lives are morally not worth living. The book begins with a consideration of why a new model of the moral life is needed. Wadell then examines the ethics of Aristotle, who viewed the moral life as based on a specific understanding of the purpose of being human, with friendship being an important factor in enabling people to acquire virtues necessary for achieving this purpose. Through the thought of Augustine, Aelred of Reivaulx, and Karl Barth, the question is raised whether friendship is at odds with Christian love or whether their relation depends on one's narrative account of friendship. Thomas Aquinas' understanding of charity as friendship with God is examined to clarify this relationship. By locating friendship within the story of God's redemption through Christ, Wadell helps us see why friendship properly understood is integral to the Christian life and not at odds with it. Such a friendship draws us to love all others who seek God and teaches us not to restrict our concern to a special few in preferential love. The book closes by investigating how friendship as a model for the moral life might work in everyday life.

Genres: Academic, Christianity, Philosophy

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Grant]

“The Christian moral life is what happens to us when we grant God, and others, the freedom to be our friends.”

A compelling and surprisingly practical work. Pairs well with a conversational understanding of a few classical works on friendship. I am grateful to have been required to first read the helpful anthology published by Hackett and edited by Pakaluk—“Other Selves.”

[Tim Otto]

"The moral life is what happens to us in relationship with others." Rather than thinking about the moral life in terms of quandary ethics (if you get yourself into a difficult situation what is the right choice?) Wadell makes the case that ethics has everything to do with relationship, specifically the friendships we cultivate. A terrific read.

[Liddy Barlow]

Wadell uses friendship as the cornerstone of Christian ethics, drawing on Aristotle, Aquinas, Kierkegaard, and Barth to prove his point that it is in our friendships that we are inspired and supported on the way to virtue. By far the best line: "life is essentially a group project."