WHAT DOES FRIENDSHIP (PHILIA) TELL US ABOUT THE FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRACY? ASSUMPTIONS OF A “DEMOPHILIA”

According to Aristotle’s perspective, politics constitutes the continuity of research on ethics. If it is a fact that philia or friendship occupies the highest position on his ethics system, therefore it might be essential to turn some attention of the political thought to it. This article aims to explore the meanings of philia formulated upon the paradigmatic view of Aristotle. It seeks to investigate philia’s character as a Greek polis foundation, as well as its affinity with ancient democracy. Finally, it outlines the inmost signs of the persistence of philia’s assumptions in modern democracy, outlining what we suggest as a tradition of “demophilia”.

Keywords:
Philia; Friendship; Pólis; Democracy; Demophilia