I think friendships can be instrumentally good, obviously. But there’s a distinction between ways in which friendships are instrumentally good. If I discovered a friend of mine revealing that they were only my friend for the fantastic conversation, the excellent company, the superb sense of humour etc. I wouldn’t feel cheated. If I found out they were only my friend because I drove a car and it was convenient for them to get around, I would feel cheated.
Suppose there were two people with equally good conversation, company, humor, &tc, one of whom had a car, and only enough time/resources for a hypothetical third party to develop a friendship with one of them? Would you feel cheated if your mundane instrumental utility was a factor at all?
You clearly implied “only”. The external favours were the basis of the motivation.
“It isn’t immoral to notice that someone values friendship, and then to be their friend [b]in order to get the favors[/b] from them that they willingly provide to their friends”
In answer to your question: I’d still find it a little weird, tbh.
So what’s wrong with fostering an “actual friendship” because it is instrumentally better to have them then to not have them?
I think friendships can be instrumentally good, obviously. But there’s a distinction between ways in which friendships are instrumentally good. If I discovered a friend of mine revealing that they were only my friend for the fantastic conversation, the excellent company, the superb sense of humour etc. I wouldn’t feel cheated. If I found out they were only my friend because I drove a car and it was convenient for them to get around, I would feel cheated.
I never specified ‘only’.
Suppose there were two people with equally good conversation, company, humor, &tc, one of whom had a car, and only enough time/resources for a hypothetical third party to develop a friendship with one of them? Would you feel cheated if your mundane instrumental utility was a factor at all?
You clearly implied “only”. The external favours were the basis of the motivation.
“It isn’t immoral to notice that someone values friendship, and then to be their friend [b]in order to get the favors[/b] from them that they willingly provide to their friends”
In answer to your question: I’d still find it a little weird, tbh.