Duties to friends

✍ Scribed by Dan Passell

• Book ID: 104638974
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 237 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-5363
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00141120

✦ Synopsis

David B. Annis in "The Meaning, Value, and Duties of Friendship ''1 argues, against me, 2 that there are special duties that go with being friends. He says, "If the duty to help a friend were simply an instance of the general duty of beneficence, there should be no differential ethical pull based on special relations. The duty should apply equally to all. But this seems not to be the case." (353) Earlier (352) he had indicated how duties to friends arise. "Friendship is an example of one of these relationships that produces special duties. In friendship there is a mutuality of affection, sharing, concern, and trust. This mutuality is the basis of special responsibilities. It isn't merely that it is nice for friends to help, to provide psychological support, but that we expect friends to act this way, are surprised if they don't, and frequently feel betrayed and not just harmed if they intentionally let us down. Friendships are built over time, and the past behavior, understandings, expectations and loyalties create a special bond that produces special responsibilities.