The philosopher Raimond Gaita has always been fascinated by
animals- their obvious intelligence and disturbing brutality, their
uncanny responsiveness to our moods and needs, the deep feelings
they elicit from us and seem to return. In this marvelous, luminous
book, Gaita trains the lens of philosophy on the mystery and beauty
of the animals he has known and loved best. The Philosopher's Dog
is one of those rare works that engage the heart from the very
first paragraph and haunt the mind long after one has finished
reading.
What does Gaita's dog, Gypsy, think about while she sits on her mat
gazing out to sea for hours on end? Why did the irascible cockatoo
Jack greet Gaita's father with kisses each morning but bite
everyone else? How can we acknowledge that animals are sentient and
yet deny that they have consciousness? Is it possible to love
animals and still eat meat? In contemplating questions like these,
Gaita weaves together personal stories-inspiring, sometimes
heartbreaking accounts about the animals he and his family members
have sheltered-with the reflections and analysis of a professional
philosopher.
A graceful, engaging stylist, Gaita is perfectly lucid as he
grapples with great thinkers through the ages-from Socrates to
Wittgenstein, Descartes to Hannah Arendt. And yet, as important as
formal philosophy has been to him, Gaita frankly acknowledges that
he has learned much about the nature of life from Gypsy and Jack
and his courageously arrogant cat Tosca. In the end, he argues that
love should be the essence of our bond with animals, the critical
factor that guides how we treat them and think about their place in
our world.
In pondering the meaning and morality of his relationships with
animals, and with the natural world more generally, Raimond Gaita
has created a surprising masterpiece, a book of startling insights,
spellbinding stories, meticulous observations, and wise reflection.
At once engrossing and thought-provoking, The Philosopher's Dog is
a supremely enjoyable book.
"From the Hardcover edition."
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