Why do you think anything is normal?

Presumably, somewhere in your childhood, someone normalized things. Your parents only ever talked about certain subjects. Your friends dressed and behaved in a certain style. The miasmic shadows of society told you that some kinds of thoughts are acceptable, and others are deviant. Suppress! Deny! It’s abnormal.

One of the hundred reasons I love philosophy is that it allows us to reexamine our own “normal.” We can drag our concepts onto the syllogistic dissecting table to scrutinize their genesis and their worth. But sometimes, philosophy needs a little help from its friends. And when it comes to one of the most important parts of life, we need to call upon a bit of psychology. With the topic of “friendships,” we need to work together.

What does a “normal” relationship look like to you? What makes you think this friendship is broken, but this one is healthy?…