Ana Mª Romero stated that friendship is a perennial philosophical topic . PHOTO: Manuel Castells

Ana Mª Romero Iribas, assistant principal of the Sansueña high school in Zaragoza, affirmed in a special session of the Master's Degree University faculty (MUP) of the University of Navarra, that friendship has a humanizing value.

Professor Romero gave a session on the concept of friendship, its origin, features and fundamental pillars in the framework of the course "The formative value of the Philosophy and the Humanities". In her exhibition, Ana Mª Romero emphasized that the Philosophy has always considered the essence of friendship: from Aristotle to C. S. Lewis, passing through Cicero and Montaigne. "Today's youth is very sensitive to it, but the greatest difficulty young people have in cultivating it is in many cases their superficiality. To have friends," he explained, "you have to have something to give," and so he began the session by stressing the importance of reflection as a vital attitude in those who dedicate themselves to the task of Education: "to reflect is a way of living".

Romero Iribas stressed the particular responsibility of teachers to educate their students for friendship. In this way they can favor the development of qualities that make true friendship possible: understanding, respect, generosity, listening, ability to put oneself in the other's place, etc. "Friendship is the freest of loves, it is a love that gives freedom," he stressed.