The Philosopher's Dog
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.51 (703 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0415309077 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 224 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 0000-00-00 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
This Routledge Classics edition includes a substantial new introduction and afterword by the author.. In this beautifully written book Raimond Gaita tells inspirational, poignant, sometimes funny but never sentimental stories of the dogs, cats and cockatoos that lived and died within his own family. An arresting and profound book, The Philosopher's Dog is a triumph of both storytelling and philosophy. Coetzee, Gaita pleads that we ask ourselves what it means to be creatures of 'flesh and blood.' He discusses mortality and sexuality, the relations between storytelling, philosophy and science and the spiritual love of mountains. He asks fascinating questions about animals: Is it wrong to attribute the concepts of love, devotion, loyalty, grief or friendship to them? Why do we care so much for some creatures but not for others? Why are we so concerned with proving that animals have minds? Reflecting on these questions, and drawing on the ideas of Descartes, Wittgenstein and J.M
HB said For a dog? Why yes. I enjoyed this book very much. It's written in the style of an introduction to moral philosophy with application to how we think of and relate to animals, especially pets. Though I haven't read any of the philosophers the author references and so may not be the best judge, I don't think the philosophical discussions are dumbed down at all. Many times over the cour. You Decide Shirley Priscilla Johnson I am one of those people who love animals, hate to see anything killed and have at times had closer friendships with my dogs than some humans I know. Some call this weird but for me it is a way of life.When I first started this book I felt it would be a simple book with the concept of how 'human' animals could be; this was not so. Written by Raimond Gaita; a profe. Endurance Test I lament not loving this book, because the concept seemed wholly compelling and Mr. Gaita is a fine writer. However, I found the animal sequences slanted toward the sorrowful, and the philosophic essays rambling.The philosophy, to the book's detriment, dominates the text. I've read Wittgenstein, Buber and Heidegger -- so I'm not unfamiliar with the rigors associat
From Publishers Weekly Offering entertaining animal stories and delicate philosophical reflections on them, University of London philosopher Gaita (Romulus, My Father) begins with stories of animals from his rural childhood (Jack the cockatoo, Orloff the greyhound) and his adult life (Gypsy the German shepherd, Tosca the cat). Why we should pay respect to dead animals or care about butterflies and bees; the common "creatureliness" of people and animals; and how someone who loves animals can kill and