Final answer:
Aristotle believed that perfect friendships are crucial for a flourishing life because they foster virtuous development and contribute to one's eudaimonia, providing happiness, trust, and support, and enabling individuals to engage deeply with virtuous actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Aristotle’s view, perfect friendships are an important part of a good or flourishing life because they provide opportunities for virtuous development and contribute significantly to one's eudaimonia, a term that refers to human flourishing or well-being. Unlike friendships of pleasure or utility, which are transient and focused on self-interest, perfect friendships are based on the mutual recognition and appreciation of the other’s character, where each person wishes well for the other purely for their sake. Perfect friendships are valued in Aristotle’s philosophy because they are thought to bring happiness, trust, and support to individuals, making them essential for a well-lived life.
Aristotle’s view on eudaimonia differs from the contemporaneous understanding of happiness. He considers eudaimonia as overall well-being rather than fleeting emotions. He emphasizes that eudaimonia encompasses thriving by one's nature and perfect friendships play a pivotal role in achieving it.
Aristotle considers social relationships and friendships necessary for life and central to human flourishing. Perfect friendships help individuals to contemplate virtuous actions, both their own and those of their friends, thus allowing them to 'live' these good actions and further contributing to their eudaimonia.
Answering the original question, the correct option is (c) They provide happiness, trust, and support.