Final answer:
The phrase suggests that true friendship is evident when a friend defends you in your absence, reflecting Aristotle's idea of friends as 'another self' who deeply care for each other's well-being and contribute to personal growth. Option B) Defending you in your absence is the correct answer
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "A wise man once told me they are not your friend unless they defended you in your absence" suggests that a sign of true friendship is when a friend defends you in your absence. This reflects Aristotle's view on virtuous friendships wherein friends are seen as another self. Such friends are deeply invested in each other's lives, wishing what is good for the other's sake, and they consider each other's virtuous actions, whether their own or their friend's, as a source of personal reflection and growth.
According to Aristotle, true friends offer an opportunity for individuals to grow and better themselves, a kind of relationship unique to perfect friendships. He believed that the company of good friends provides valuable perspective that contributes to personal development and overall happiness. By experiencing and participating in a friend's happiness, one can consider Aristotle's assertion that true friends are "the greatest of external goods".
So, in reference to the multiple-choice question, the correct option that suggests a sign of true friendship is B) Defending you in your absence.