Eric Schwitzgebel's How To Tell If You Re A Jerk
In a world where there are many relationships available there is one that pertains to living a fulfilling life, friendship. Friendships arguably falls into three different categories, pleasure, utility, and virtue (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX, 121). These styles of friendships behave in such a way analogous to bonds in chemistry. Bonds require time and energy to fully form. The bonds between pleasure, and even utility is considered the weakest. These relationships usually stem from the innate reciprocal enjoyment or benefit from another party. Rarely would one call a mate that they have partied with for a favor. Instead they would call up the mate for pleasure such as going to a party. If one were to ask of such a favor in this
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This person is the “jerk.” In a quickly moving world there are people that take advantage of other people. There are people that look upon others with disdain, or even prey on them. In friendships of pleasure, utility, and pressure both parties benefit in some way from each other. In other words, these relationships are obligated to be peer to peer. However, a jerk is different. In Eric Schwitzgebel’s How to Tell if You’re a Jerk he explains that:
“Jerks are people who culpably fail to appreciate the perspectives of the people around them, treating others as tools to be manipulated or fools to be dealt with, rather than as moral and epistemic peers. To be a jerk is to be ignorant in a certain way—ignorant of the value of others, ignorant of the merit of their ideas and plans, dismissive of their desires and beliefs, unforgiving of their perceived inferiority.” (Eric Schwitsgebel, How to Tell if You’re a Jerk, …show more content…
When friendships are dissolved, the consequences can be devastating. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX he explains how humans learn from one another, and that humans are innately social animals (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX, 148-149). Friendships are required in life learn about values. Without friends, humans would not be able to learn such values from each other, nor will they be able to confide in each other. Having friends in life allow for the mutual growth of both parties. Rebecca Traister writes in her article “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love” her experiences with her friend Sara. Traister says, “In each other, we found respite, recognition, a shared eagerness to relax, take stock and talk about it all.” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 1), going on to say this relationship was mutual where they benefited from each other’s company. As they both grew together over time, much like Aristotle suggests is the value of friendship. Humans life are not fulfilled unless friends are there to support each other. As Traister says, “For many women, friends are our primary partner through life” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 5). In Traister’s case, the friendship she shares with Sara is a friendship of virtue.
This person is the “jerk.” In a quickly moving world there are people that take advantage of other people. There are people that look upon others with disdain, or even prey on them. In friendships of pleasure, utility, and pressure both parties benefit in some way from each other. In other words, these relationships are obligated to be peer to peer. However, a jerk is different. In Eric Schwitzgebel’s How to Tell if You’re a Jerk he explains that:
“Jerks are people who culpably fail to appreciate the perspectives of the people around them, treating others as tools to be manipulated or fools to be dealt with, rather than as moral and epistemic peers. To be a jerk is to be ignorant in a certain way—ignorant of the value of others, ignorant of the merit of their ideas and plans, dismissive of their desires and beliefs, unforgiving of their perceived inferiority.” (Eric Schwitsgebel, How to Tell if You’re a Jerk, …show more content…
When friendships are dissolved, the consequences can be devastating. In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX he explains how humans learn from one another, and that humans are innately social animals (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics - VIII – IX, 148-149). Friendships are required in life learn about values. Without friends, humans would not be able to learn such values from each other, nor will they be able to confide in each other. Having friends in life allow for the mutual growth of both parties. Rebecca Traister writes in her article “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love” her experiences with her friend Sara. Traister says, “In each other, we found respite, recognition, a shared eagerness to relax, take stock and talk about it all.” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 1), going on to say this relationship was mutual where they benefited from each other’s company. As they both grew together over time, much like Aristotle suggests is the value of friendship. Humans life are not fulfilled unless friends are there to support each other. As Traister says, “For many women, friends are our primary partner through life” (Sara Traister, “What Women Find in Friends That They May Not Get from Love, 5). In Traister’s case, the friendship she shares with Sara is a friendship of virtue.