Types of Enemies
I’m writing up an essay on the nature of friends and enemies for The Philosophy of Sherlock Holmes (which I’m also editing, w/ David Baggett).
Anyway, I’m trying to analyse what it means to have an enemy. The basic definition seems to be something like, “A relationship which is defined in some significant way by antagonism.”
Given this, it seems to me that there are at least three different types of enemies. I note them here:
Foe: A relationship whose antagonism is based in deep, personal opposition and dislike. (e.g. Holmes and Moriarty, or any two people who cannot stand each other and do not desire the success of the other).
Rival: A relationship whose antagonism arises from undesired conflict in a shared sphere of activity. (e.g. Holmes and Lestrade, or two rivals for the same girl)
Opponent: A relationship based on desired conflict in a shared sphere of activity. (e.g. Holmes and Irene Adler, or two sports competitors)
Open question: Are there any personal relationships that could meaningfully be called “enemy” relationships that don’t fall into the above categories?
(Source: blank)
