"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival"

C. S. Lewis touches on the profound distinction between what enables humans to survive and what makes that survival meaningful. By describing friendship as “unnecessary,” he does not demean its importance but places it among the rare treasures that go beyond our basic needs. Like philosophy and art, friendship is not essential for physical survival; one could, theoretically, eat, drink, work, and shelter oneself without ever experiencing these aspects of life. However, existence without them would be reduced to mere subsistence.

Human beings have always sought connection, understanding, and meaning. Survival value refers to the basic requirements—food, safety, reproduction—that keep humans alive. But after these are met, people crave things that nourish the inner life. Philosophy allows reflection about existence and the universe, art provides beauty and channels creativity, and friendship delivers companionship, emotional support, and joy. These things do not simply keep a body functioning; they enrich experience and awaken the spirit.

Lewis argues that what makes life worth living are qualities and pursuits that transcend necessity, emerging as luxuries in the best sense—aesthetic, intellectual, and emotional gifts that transform a bland existence into a multidimensional journey. Friendship is among these gifts, fostering genuine connection, shared laughter and sorrow, comfort in hard times, and an avenue for self-discovery and growth. It helps develop empathy, provides perspective, and allows individuals to see the world through the eyes of another.

The essence of his reflection lies in the claim that the highest forms of human experience are not those dictated solely by survival. Rather, they are things freely chosen and delighted in, testifying to a thirst for meaning beyond what mere survival can offer. Survival may be the foundation of human existence, but elements like friendship are the architecture and decoration—it is these that give life its beauty, significance, and value.