This chapter begins with a discussion of Thomas Aquinas' views on friendship. For him, friendship is the paradigm ideal for the relationships that rational beings should cultivate. The set of potential friends includes besides fellow human beings, also angels and God. Friendship and Thomistic amicitia, the importance of friends, and acts of friendship (benevolence, concord, and beneficence) are discussed.
Keywords: friends, amicitia, Aristotle, benevolence, concord, beneficence