What is Friendship? Conversations with the Great Philosophers, by Stephen J. Costello

What is Friendship? is a book of dialogues on the subject of friendship. Noted Irish author and philosopher Stephen J. Costello interrogates the great philosophers from Plato and Aristotle through St. Augustine and Montaigne and on to C. S. Lewis, Sartre and Derrida in an effort to understand the nature and function of friendship.

Dr Costello lets each philosopher speak in his own words. Here are some of the questions he asks them: ‘What do we love when we love our friends?’ ‘What is the relationship between friendship and happiness?’ ‘Is a friend another self?’ ‘Is it possible to love a friend too much?’ ‘What happens when a friend dies?’ ‘Is all friendship self-serving?’ ‘Would you lie for a friend?’ ’Die for a friend?’

After fourteen dialogical explorations on the philosophy of friendship, Costello offers his own philosophico-Christian vision of friendship in the conclusion.

This inspiring book is full of fascinating insights on a subject of relevance to everyone whose lives are made full by their loving-friendships, with their perils and pains as well as their joys and jubilations. For life without friendship is void of meaning.

About the Author

Stephen J. Costello, Ph.D., is a philosopher, existential analyst and logotherapist, Director of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Ireland and author of numerous books. Among his many publications are The Truth about Lying, The Pale Criminal, Philosophy and the Flow of Presence, Hermeneutics and the Psychoanalysis of Religion and The Ethics of Happiness. He is a member of the International Association of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (Vienna).