Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses Wollstonecraft’s claim that friendship should permeate society, from relationships between husband and wife to relationships between citizens insofar as equality and respect should permeate society. It argues that friendships between children are not only genuine but may not differ very much from those of adults, and may even meet some of the criteria of Aristotelian complete friendship. The book shows that the Christian conception of God as redeemer involves a notion of “offered friendship”. It also that there are at least some important analogies between the relations of friendship and of fellow citizenship: importantly, both relations involve an understanding of those involved as having an equal status with one another. The book explores the impact that friendship has on how an agent ought to engage in the activity of practical reasoning.