Final answer:
Aristotle's view on friendship supports the idea that a few close, virtuous friendships are more valuable for personal growth and happiness than many superficial ones.
Step-by-step explanation:
When deliberating whether it is better to have many friends or a few close friends, one can refer to the wisdom of Aristotle, who valued the quality of friendships over their quantity. According to Aristotle, friendships based on utility or pleasure are incidental and not likely to contribute to our virtuous development or eudaimonia, a term for human flourishing. In contrast, he highlighted perfect friendships, those built on mutual good and the character of the individuals, which foster meaningful growth and happiness. Perfect friendships allow us to view our friends as another self, sharing in their triumphs and challenges, and offering perspectives that enhance our own virtuous development.
Given the importance of such virtuous friendships for personal growth and happiness, the argument leans toward having fewer but closer friends. These relationships provide a depth of understanding and support that is difficult to maintain across a wide network of friends. While it is possible to have many friends, the investment and commitment required to nurture each relationship are significant, and spreading oneself too thin may result in superficial connections that lack the substance of true friendship.
Based on Aristotle's perspective, embracing a few close friends over many casual ones seems to better support our happiness and virtue. This would suggest a balance of social relationships where each is carefully cultivated for the mutual benefit of character growth and well-being.