Friendship across centuries – The daily blog of behavioral and cognitive economics

The metamorphosis of this special bond from feudal to modern times reveals much about the aspirations of different societies

Friendship is a force that runs deep through the human soul. It fosters trust, emotional balance and mutual support. It binds individuals and shapes communities, both in ordinary times and in moments of crisis. In the Middle Ages, friendship was more than a private bond – it was a social instrument, intertwined with moral ideals, religious duties and political hierarchies. Medieval thinkers devoted sustained attention to its meaning and value, often linking it to the Christian ideal of charity. As we shall see, friendship also emerges as a golden thread that weaves together antiquity and Christianity, reason and faith, the individual and the social body. ….[READ]