The Thomistic Institute Friendship is a Difficult Good | Fr. Cassian Derbes, O.P.
May 15, 2025
Fr. Cassian Derbes, a Dominican priest and visiting professor at Notre Dame, dives deep into the complexities of friendship. He discusses philosophical insights from giants like Aristotle and Aquinas, emphasizing how genuine friendships require virtue and effort. Fr. Cassian reveals the dynamic relationship between desire and goodness, showing how true connections can help us overcome despair. His reflections illuminate friendship as not just a bond but a vital force in living a fulfilling life.
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Friendship as Highest Good
- Friendship is one of the highest goods, but it is difficult to achieve and sustain.
- Cicero and Aristotle describe friendship as essential and deeply fulfilling, akin to having a second self.
Hope Drives Pursuit of Friendship
- Hope is a virtue that drives us toward difficult but possible goods with God's help.
- Hope involves both desire and reason, actively connecting us to God as a helper.
Friendship as Common Good
- Friendship is a common good that grows and intensifies when shared.
- Common goods differ from private goods because sharing them enhances rather than diminishes the good.
