Virtual Friendship Reconsidered
Abstract
Both the everyday experience of gamers and a growing philosophical literature challenge the dismissal of virtual friendship as inauthentic, particularly by Aristotelian standards. This chapter bolsters existing defenses by situating virtual friendships within the environments and practices of digital life. Drawing on Alasdair MacIntyre’s understanding of practices, it shows how gaming communities foster mutual recognition, reciprocity, and moral formation. Nonetheless, the chapter highlights some of the vulnerabilities of virtual friendship, emphasizing how broader digital ecosystems can both support and threaten its development.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Digital Games and Media
Digital Media and Philosophy
Philosophical Ethics and Theory
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 233–251
- Publication date
- 10 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter