Since the publication of A Study in Scarlet in 1887, the stories of Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. John Watson have captured the hearts and minds of many. When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle composed the first of the Sherlock mysteries, its doubtful he realized that he had created one of the most iconic relationships in literature. But what makes the friendship so appealing that over a century later we as a society are still fascinated with them? Using Aristotle's theories on the principles of friendship, I will discuss how Holmes and Watson's relationship built on utility, pleasure, and finally virtue led the duo to epitomize the philosophic ideal of friendship. Aristotle describes utility as a situation where both people derive some benefit from each other (Aristotle). Friendships almost invariably begin as utility-based, and such is the case in A Study in Scarlet. In our initial introduction to John Watson, it is clear that he's a lonely man adrift in London (Doyle ) without friends or much purpose, which has recently come into a bit of financial trouble. So alarming did the state of my finances become, I began by making up my mind to leave the hotel, and take up my quarters in some less pretentious and less expensive domicile (Doyle). Through the aid of old friend, Young Stamford, Watson is introduced to Holmes as a potential roommate, as Holmes also found himself in financial trouble. Initially, both Holmes and Watson are seeking a clear utility-based relationship. Each needs a roommate so they can afford to continue living in London. John Watson is uncertain if he likes Sherlock Holmes after the initial meeting, but he is expecting the relationship to be a classic utility relationship, and last only a short time. It was clear that Watson believed that the duration of the relationship will rely solely on how useful it remains to him when he expressed to Stamford, If we dont get on it will be easy enough to part company (Doyle). As many friendships do, this utility based friendship between Sherlock Holmes and John Watson quickly grew into a Aristotle's idea of a pleasure-based