The Philosopher's Dog: Friendships with Animals

by Raimond and Raimond Gaita

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400061105
• ISBN13: 9781400061105
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, but not an easy one!!

I found this book very moving and pleasant to read, but I am talking mostly of the first half. The second half gets really tough if you don't have a solid knowledge of philosophy...but it's certainly a very good and chalenging book. I recommend it!

You Decide

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 professor of moral philosophy in London, I found this was not a fluff work but one written with thought provoking material. The author shares stories of some animals he has encountered in his life, such as his dog Gypsy, and Jack, a cockatoo. Often heartbreaking, sometimes light-hearted, these stories showed their behavior in this world we share with them. He gives us some conclusions from others who have studies animals and also his own thoughts on the subject matter. Although I didn't agree with every conclusion in some mattes the author did; I felt the he was giving us an opportunity to come to mull them over and make our own decisions about animals and I liked that. A very interesting read that will definitely give opportunity for thought.

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 course of reading this book I had to read a passage more than once, and slowly, to try to figure out exactly what he is saying, not because the writing is unclear but because the concepts are not simple. He does a great job of weaving abstract arguments with compelling and heartfelt experiences in the real world. It was a rewarding experience to read an author whose commitment both to his subject and his audience is so clear. I may not agree with every conclusion or conjecture he offers, but I absolutely appreciate his efforts to demonstrate the value of clear thinking to deepen appreciation of things we love. Definitely a thought provoking book in the best sense. If you enjoy quality writing, philosophical dilemmas and the company of animals, I highly recommend this book. Note on one of the editorial reviews: if he takes issue with the idea of a "doctrine of animal rights" he does not mean people should be free to do whatever they please to animals. Quite the contrary. His ideas are compassionate and carefully thought out, and well worth exploring. Thanks to this book, I've found myself accidentally thinking deep thoughts when I should be pondering the latest celebrity scandal or exciting product offering. Kudos to Mr. Gaita!