The Critical Friend is a powerful idea, perhaps because it contains an inherent tension.

 

Friends bring a high degree of unconditional positive regard. Critics are, at first sight at least, conditional, negative and intolerant of failure.

 

Perhaps the critical friend comes closest. to what might be regarded as 'true friendship'

- a successful marrying of unconditional support and unconditional critique.

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John MacBeath

Cambridge University

1998

 

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