Question

Although friendship is, in general, a good thing, even according to Augustine, how is it that sometimes friendship can be a near occasion of sin? Think about what you read about Augustine's life in this section.

Answer 1

While St. Augustine viewed friendship as usually beneficial to happiness and virtuous development, he also cautioned that it has the potential to lead to sin, especially if it distracts from the path of righteousness.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to St. Augustine, friendship is generally a good thing and can contribute to one's happiness and virtuous development. However, Augustine also recognized that friendships have the potential to lead to sin, which aligns with his views on human freedom and the need for divine grace. Reflecting on Augustine's life, we know that he believed in innate human freedom to choose between good and evil, influenced by original sin and the necessity of divine grace to guide these choices. While Aristotle emphasized the importance of perfect friendships for the flourishing of good character and well-being, known as eudaimonia, Augustine suggested that there could be occasions where friendships might be associated with sin, particularly if they distract one from the righteous path or are with individuals who do not act in one's best virtuous interest.