Abstract
The Harry Potter Cinematic Universe is a fertile ground for philosophical cultivation. In this essay, the films are used to explain and expand upon Aristotle’s theory of friendship. Aristotle’s theory identifies three types of friendship: friendships for virtue, pleasure, and utility. The Harry Potter films, however, suggest a modification of this view to allow for five types of friendships. Throughout the series we see that friendships for pleasure and utility come in both beneficent and maleficent forms. A key element in this distinction is whether the motivations for forming these friendships are other-regarding or self-regarding.
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References
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Visual Works Cited
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. Chris Columbus, director. Michael Barnatha, Chris Columbus, Duncan Henderson, and Mark Radcliffe, executive producers. Warner Brothers. 2001.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. Chris Columbus, director. Michael Barnatha, David Barron, Chris Columbus, and Mark Radcliffe, executive producers. Warner Brothers. 2002.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. Alfonso Cuarón, director. Michael Barnatha, Callum McDougal, and Tanya Seghatchian, executive producers. Warner Brothers. 2004.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. J. K. Rowling and Nuno Miranda, writers. Mike Newell, director. Harvey Elliot, executive producer. Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment, Electronic Arts. 2005.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. J. K. Rowling and Michael Goldenberg, writers. David Yates, director. Lionel Wigram, executive producer. Warner Brothers and Heyday Films. 2007.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. David Yates, director. Lionel Wigram, executive producer. Warner Brothers and Heyday Films. 2009.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. David Yates, director. Lionel Wigram, executive producer. Warner Brothers and Heyday Films. 2010.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. J. K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, writers. David Yates, director. Lionel Wigram, executive producer. Warner Brothers and Heyday Films. 2011.
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Okapal, J.M. (2020). Harry Potter as Philosophy: Five Types of Friendship. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Popular Culture as Philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_40-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97134-6_40-1
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