philia

Philia is a term from ancient Greek used to denote affectionate regard, friendship, or a fondness for people, ideas, or things. In classical philosophy it is associated with voluntary, mutual bonds that are non-romantic in character. In English, the suffix -philia marks a love or affinity for something, as in philanthropy or bibliophilia.

Originating from the Greek root philein 'to love' or philos, philia designates a love, affection, or friendly bond. As a linguistic suffix, it forms nouns that express affinity or tendency toward a given object.

In Aristotle's Ethics, philia is central to social life and appears in three forms: utility, pleasure, and virtue. The first two are instrumental, while the highest form is virtuous friendship, grounded in mutual goodwill and the character of the friends; such friendship endures so long as both parties cultivate virtue.

Today, philia is used in two primary senses. In everyday language it denotes close, non-sexual friendship or affectionate companionship. In scientific and scholarly terms, -philia appears as a suffix indicating affinity or predisposition for a thing or person, as in philanthropy (love of humanity) and bibliophilia (love of books); hemophilia is a medical term describing a disorder related to bleeding.

Related concepts include eros (romantic love) and agape (unconditional love); philia is part of a broader vocabulary that distinguishes different kinds of love in Greek thought and modern usage.