Αιλουροειδής φιλοσοφία: Οι γάτες και το νόημα της ζωής

by John Gray, Γιώργος Λαμπράκος (Translator)

Οι γάτες δεν έχουν ανάγκη τη φιλοσοφία. Ακολουθώντας τη φύση τους, είναι ευχαριστημένες με τη ζωή που τους προσφέρει. Στους ανθρώπους, από την άλλη, η δυσφορία για την ίδια τους τη φύση μοιάζει φυσική. Το ανθρώπινο ζώο δεν παύει ποτέ να πασχίζει να γίνει κάτι που δεν είναι. Οι γάτες δεν κάνουν καμία τέτοια προσπάθεια. Μεγάλο μέρος του ανθρώπινου βίου συνίσταται στον αγώνα για ευτυχία. Για τις γάτες, από την άλλη, η ευτυχία είναι η βασική τους κατάσταση. Κατέχουν μια έμφυτη ευτυχία την οποία οι άνθρωποι συνήθως αδυνατούν να κατακτήσουν.

Οι άνθρωποι δεν μπορούν να γίνουν γάτες. Εντούτοις, εάν παραμερίσουν την ιδέα ότι είναι ανώτερα πλάσματα, μπορεί να κατανοήσουν πως οι γάτες ευημερούν χωρίς να αναζητούν εναγωνίως πώς να ζουν.

«Αμφισβητεί τις περισσότερες αντιλήψεις μας για το τι σημαίνει να είσαι άνθρωπος.» (J.G. Ballard)

«Ο Γκρέι μάς διδάσκει ότι ο αληθινός ανθρωπισμός βρίσκεται στην αβεβαιότητα και την αμφιβολία.» (Will Self)

«Όταν παίζω με τη γάτα μου, ποιος ξέρει αν περνάει την ώρα της μαζί μου περισσότερο απ' ό,τι εγώ μαζί της;» (Μισέλ ντε Μοντέν)


ΠΕΡΙΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ
1. ΟΙ ΓΑΤΕΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΦΙΛΟΣΟΦΙΑ
Ένας γατόφιλος αντιφιλόσοφος: Μισέλ ντε Μοντέν
Το ταξίδι του Μέιο
Πώς οι γάτες εξημέρωσαν τους ανθρώπους
2. ΓΙΑΤΙ ΟΙ ΓΑΤΕΣ ΔΕΝ ΠΑΣΧΙΖΟΥΝ ΝΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΕΥΤΥΧΙΣΜΕΝΕΣ
Όταν οι φιλόσοφοι μιλούν για ευτυχία
Ο Πασκάλ για τη διασκέδαση
Ο Χοτζ και η Πτώση
3. ΑΙΛΟΥΡΟΕΙΔΗΣ ΗΘΙΚΗ
Ηθικότητα, μια πολύ παράξενη πρακτική
Ο Σπινόζα περί του να ζει κανείς σύμφωνα με τη φύση του
Ανιδιοτελής εγωισμός
4. ΑΝΘΡΩΠΙΝΗ ΑΓΑΠΗ ΕΝΑΝΤΙΟΝ ΑΙΛΟΥΡΟΕΙΔΟΥΣ ΑΓΑΠΗΣ
Ο θρίαμβος της Σαχά
Η μεγαλύτερη λεία του Μινγκ
Αγαπώντας τη Λίλι
Ο Γκατίνο εξαφανίζεται
5. ΧΡΟΝΟΣ, ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ ΚΑΙ Η ΑΙΛΟΥΡΟΕΙΔΗΣ ΨΥΧΗ
Ο αποχαιρετισμός του Μούρι
Ο πολιτισμός ως άρνηση του θανάτου
Οι γάτες ως θεοί
6. ΟΙ ΓΑΤΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΟ ΝΟΗΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΖΩΗΣ
Γατίσια φύση, ανθρώπινη φύση
Δέκα αιλουροειδείς προτάσεις για το πώς να ζούμε καλά
Ο Μέιο στο περβάζι
Ευχαριστίες

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Psychology, History, Audiobook

173 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2020

About the author

John Nicholas Gray is a English political philosopher with interests in analytic philosophy and the history of ideas. He retired in 2008 as School Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Gray contributes regularly to The Guardian, The Times Literary Supplement and the New Statesman, where he is the lead book reviewer.

Reviews

[Apoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

too much philosophy, not enough cat

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cats are happy being themselves, while humans try to be happy by escaping themselves.

2.5 stars — Imagine an Intro to Philosophy course taught by an eccentric professor who really, REALLY loves cats. Might be cute and endearing for the first couple weeks, but by the time midterms roll around, all the cat stories begin to grow a bit tiresome.

British philosopher John Gray serves up an engaging enough "sampler platter" of philosophy, history, and literature to argue that we could all learn a thing or two from cats when it comes to the age-old philosophical questions about the best way to live:

Cats have no need of philosophy. Obeying their nature, they are content with the life it gives them. In humans, on the other hand, discontent with their nature seems to be natural. With predictably tragic and farcical results, the human animal never ceases striving to be something that it is not. Cats make no such effort....

If cats could understand the human search for meaning they would purr with delight at its absurdity.

As you can probably tell from these quotes, this is a playful, provocative, and surprisingly accessible read, and Gray's observations about cats will no doubt be both funny and familiar to anyone with a beloved cat in their life.

But while I might envy my cat Marley's simple, mostly care-free existence from time to time, it's hardly a life I'd ever aspire to live for myself. Gray's reflections eventually turn into a treatise against humanism and liberalism that I found occasionally thought-provoking, sometimes troubling, and ultimately unrealistic.

Only recommended, with reservations, to true cat lovers in the mood for a quick refresher course in modern philosophy from a unique, feline-focused point of view.

[Steven R. Kraaijeveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cats have no need of philosophy. Obeying their nature, they are content with the life it gives them. In humans, on the other hand, discontent with their nature seems to be natural. With predictably tragic and farcical results, the human animal never ceases striving to be something that it is not. Cats make no such effort. Much of human life is a struggle for happiness. Among cats, on the other hand, happiness is the state to which they default when practical threats to their well-being are removed. That may be the chief reason many of us love cats. They possess as their birthright a felicity humans regularly fail to attain." (2)

When I saw that John Gray was coming out with a new book called Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life, I pre-ordered it right away. I mean, a book about cats and philosophy? Always. It's not very long, and while it's a little underwhelming on the philosophical side of things (e.g., Gray seems to conflate consciousness and rationality), it is on the whole entertaining, at times touching and thought-provoking. Especially, of course, if you love cats. Gray focuses some of his pet subjects (pun intended), particularly that of the relation of humans beings to other animals, which he covers in works like Straw Dogs and The Silence of Animals, on cats—the perfect model for Gray of a kind of creature that, unlike us humans, is not anxiously self-conscious and perpetually concerned with the (thwarted) state of their own happiness. The book becomes a little self-helpy at the end, but I didn't mind that much. One of the nicest things about reading Gray, here as elsewhere, is the range of new works to which he manages to introduce you.

[Eylül Görmüş · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uyarı: Bu kitabı okurken elinizin altında bir kedi olduğumdan emin olun, zira sık sık bir kediye dokunmak, karnını öpmek, mırıldamasını duymak ihtiyacı hissedeceksiniz. Ben kitabı Lokmacığım geçirmekte olduğu idrar yolları enfeksiyonu nedeniyle yanımda uyuyup sürekli bana temas etmeye çalışırken okudum, muhtemelen de bu nedenle çok daha yoğun hissettim John Gray'in anlattıklarını.

"İnsanlar hayattaki amaçlarının mutlu olmak olduğunu söylediklerinde, aslında mutsuz olduklarını dile getirirler. Mutluluğu bir proje olarak görerek, memnuniyeti ileriki bir zamanda aramış olurlar. Şu an geçip gider ve yavaş yavaş endişe baş göstermeye başlar. Gelecek zamandaki bu ruh durumuna ilerleyişlerinin olaylar nedeniyle kesintiye uğramasından ödleri kopar. Böylece, onları endişelerinden kurtarmayı vadeden felsefeye -ve günümüzde psikoterapiye- yönelirler. (...) Mutluluk insanlar için yapay bir ruhsal durumken, kediler için onların doğal halidir. Doğalarına aykırı bir ortamın içinde sıkışıp kalmadıkları sürece, asla kedilerin canı sıkılmaz. Can sıkıntısı kişinin kendisiyle yalnız kalma korkusudur. Kediler kendileri olmaktan mutludurlar, insanlar ise kendilerinden kaçarak mutlu olmaya çalışırlar."

Bu uzun alıntı, John Gray'in Kedi Felsefesi kitabında ne bulabileceğinize dair iyi bir özet. Kedilerin hayatla kurduğu ilişkiden öğrenebileceğimiz neler olabilir sorusu etrafında gezinen, epey lezzetli bir metin kendisi. Ancak uyarayım, felsefe kısmı kedi kısmından daha yoğun, yani biraz dikkat isteyen bir okuma bu, kısalığı yanıltmasın, çok kolay bir metin değil.

Ve fakat çok güzel. "Kediler insanları nasıl evcilleştirdi" sorusuyla başlayan ve kedilerle ilişkimize dair akıl yürüten, kimi ünlü yazar ve düşünürlerin kendi kedi öykülerine de uğrayan bir kitap. Şu bayıldığım pasajı da eklemeden edemeyeceğim, böyle bitireyim: "Kedi etiği, bir tür bencil olmayan egoizmdir. Kediler, sadece kendileriyle ve sevdikleriyle ilgilenmeleri bakımından egoisttirler. Kendilerine dair koruyup büyütmeye çabaladıkları bir imgeye sahip olmamalarıyla da bencillikten uzaktırlar. Kediler bencillik ederek değil, bencil olmaksızın kendileri olarak yaşarlar." ❤️

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Feline Philosophy, John Gray turns his attention to cats―and what they reveal about humans' torturous relationship to the world and to themselves. The history of philosophy has been a predictably tragic or comical succession of palliatives for human disquiet. Thinkers from Spinoza to Berdyaev have pursued the perennial questions of how to be happy, how to be good, how to be loved, and how to live in a world of change and loss. But perhaps we can learn more from cats--the animal that has most captured our imagination--than from the great thinkers of the world.

Philosopher Gray discovers in cats a way of living that is unburdened by anxiety and self-consciousness, showing how they embody answers to the big questions of love and attachment, mortality, morality, and the Self: Montaigne's house cat, whose un-examined life may have been the one worth living; Meo, the Vietnam War survivor with an unshakable capacity for "fearless joy"; and Colette's Saha, the feline heroine of her subversive short story "The Cat", a parable about the pitfalls of human jealousy.

Exploring the nature of cats, and what we can learn from it, Gray offers a profound, thought-provoking meditation on the follies of human exceptionalism and our fundamentally vulnerable and lonely condition. He charts a path toward a life without illusions and delusions, revealing how we can endure both crisis and transformation, and adapt to a changed scene, as cats have always done. This is a fascinating, engrossing and intriguing book which is accessible and presents so much food for thought that I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Allen Lane for an ARC.

[Julian Worker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spinoza and Taoism are the way to go for humans to lead a fulfilling life and be true to their nature.

If you want a philosophy book that explains humanity clearly and all the problems humans face, this is almost certainly the book for you. Of course, people who appreciate cats and understand a little about the mentality of felines will appreciate this book too.

Cats are true to their nature and don't change, they don't worry about happiness, they're content with their life and know how to live it. They're unburdened by anxiety and self-consciousness and can adapt to crises and transformations as they're done down the centuries, since they domesticated themselves when humans became sedentary. They play with us when it suits them and they may even grow to like us, but don't bet on it.

We can learn a lot from those kitties that have captured our imagination.

[Viola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mēs patiesi varam daudz mācīties no kaķiem. Grāmata ir filozofiska apcere par kaķu un cilvēku attiecībām ar tādām jaukām nodaļām kā, piemēram, "Kā kaķi pieradināja cilvēkus" un "Kaķi kā dievi".

"Cats are happy being themselves, while humans try to be happy by escaping themselves"
Būsim vairāk kā kaķi!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the parts about felines; humans, not so much. Philosophy is not one of my favorite topics to read, but I like to keep an open mind. There were a few good books discussed throughout, more focused on feline human relationships. Most likely at least one will be added to a long TBR list.

[Skallagrimsen]

For Amadeus, Balthasar, Bandit, Binky, Black, Bob, Bongo, Bouj, Bubba Kong, Ella, Finegan, Genghis, Graything, Grendel, Holly, Jack, Katy, Loki, Louis, Lucky, Mathilde, Misty, Miu Miu, Orson, Pearl, Poppy, P.R., Puck, Samantha, Scrapper, Snoopy, Squeak, Strawberry, Tiger, Tomorrow, Toots, T.S. Elliot, and every other feline I've ever had the good fortune to meet.

Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life is a short book by John Gray about the nature of cats, how it differs from human nature, and what humans can learn from it. Of his previous works, it most overlaps with The Silence of the Animals, which is a critique modern civilization's anthropocentrism--that is, the deluded and arrogant conviction that humanity stands above and apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. Feline Philosophy clarifies the earlier book's insights through a single, intimate example: the common housecat. The book that emerges is more accessible, more moving, and even, I'd argue, more practical than its predecessor.

Gray begins by examining the long-shared history of humans and cats. He notes the extreme range of emotions that cats have provoked across time and geography, from the adulation of the ancient Egyptians, who worshipped cats as gods, to hatred and fear in the case of Medieval Europeans, who associated cats with evil spirits and often tortured and killed them as public amusements. The very characteristics that endear cats to some people, he suggests, are the same that cause others to revile them. One's reaction to cats says a great deal about an individual, or a society.

Unlike dogs, or indeed humans themselves, cats are not pack animals with settled hierarchies; they do not bow down to alphas or masters, nor form herds, flocks, or congregations. The sense of independence exuded by cats intrigues or infuriates humans, according to their dispositions.

“At bottom,” Gray writes, “hatred of cats may be an expression of envy. Many human beings lead lives of muffled misery...Cat hatred is very often the self-hatred of misery-sodden human beings redirected against creatures they know are not unhappy.”

This is the key insight that unlocks the theme of Feline Philosophy.

Cats, according to Gray, naturally embody what the ancient Greeks called “ataraxia,” or tranquility. When their immediate physical needs are met, they are content to be themselves--in contrast to humans, who are perpetually dissatisfied, haunted by abstractions, and always pursuing some elusive thing beyond their grasp. Cats lack the consolations of philosophy because they have no need of philosophy. “Philosophy,” he writes, “is a disease that offers itself as a cure.”

Cats, it would seem, are altogether healthier animals than humans. “If cats could understand the human search for meaning they would purr with delight at its absurdity. Life as the cat they happen to be is meaning enough for them.”

In a word, we humans would be happier if only we could learn to be more like cats. I agree.

[Murtaza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep reading John Gray's books not necessarily for new information but out of a sort of habitual homage to him for writing the life-changing Straw Dogs so many years ago. This book is a not-entirely convincing entreaty for human beings to adopt more of the psychological habits of cats. Gray could have substituted any animal here but cats are attractive and familiar: even the cover of this short book is endearing and makes you want to pick it up. Unlike all other animals, human beings feel a need to have meaning in their lives. For the religious this is a clue that humans are not mere animals, whereas Gray, an atheist who nonetheless is perhaps the most metaphysical atheist I've ever read, this is in fact proof of our own delusion and a sentiment that we must overcome. Why we've been granted this unique burden is never explained.

The key difference between us and cats is that we feel a need to create a story about our own lives and live up to it. Cats merely live and enjoy events as they come, without feeling the pain of not living up to any particular role or expectation. They may suffer, but they don't experience that suffering as a tragedy, and that is the key difference. Ceasing to try and fit our favored stories onto reality and simply accepting that reality is one of the keys to actually enjoying life, and it is here that I can agree with Gray despite our divergent first principles. The power of stories, both on the individual and societal level, can become an illusion powerful enough to truly blind.

This book is a lot less about cats than the title seems to suggest. It is in fact a round up of a bunch of interesting things that Gray collected from various philosophers and gave a cat theme. Probably a nice gift for an educated cat aficionado but not necessary reading if one has read Gray's other works.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This quick read was dry and not very catty. Mostly philosophical projections on cat bodies. I've had many cats throughout my life, and maybe I just got the goofy ones, including a few polydactyls. Mine were not nearly as sarcastic, ironic and indifferent as the ones in this book. Mine nagged, followed me, sat in the middle of every project I wanted clear space on, including computer keyboards, threw up and fell on their sides wanting immediate care, yeah. . .not a not needy bunch. . . .

Anyway. If you are into philosophy and philosophers, and have named your cat after one, this will be a moister read for you than it was for me.

Onward and upward.

[Argos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amaç ticari başarı, araç kedi, kitabı böyle tanımlayabilirim. Kedi hakkındaki kitabi bilgileri aralara serpiştirerek aslında felsefe ve inanış ile ilgili düşüncelerini özellikle sevgi, ölüm, kıskançlık gibi konuları öne çıkartarak anlatıyor felsefeci yazar John Gray.

Epikurosçuluk, Stoacılık, Seneca, Pascal, Spinoza bolca yeralmış kitapta, keza Montaigne ve M. Aurelius da alıntılanmış. Kedi edebiyatına ilişkin birkaç roman örneği ile kitap renklendirilmiş. Kitabı “Kedi Felsefesi” ismine takılmadan okursanız olur, çünkü böyle bir felsefeyi kitapta bulmak mümkün değil, kısa ve akıcı okuması olumlu yönleri.

[Tuyet Lan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mình đến với sách vì mèo, nhưng bị lừa tống cho một đống quan điểm Triết học. ​Ngoài các đoạn viết về mèo thì các phần còn lại đều khó đọc cả :V

​Mọi điều trong sách này đều rối rắm, nhờ có mèo mà có điểm neo đậu đối chiếu lại. Nhiều lúc mình thấy tác giả đi xa bờ quá, nhưng rồi lại quay vềdập dềnh quanh chủ đề so sánh Nhân sinh quan và Mèo quan - vềý nghĩa cuộc sống, về đạo đức, về tình yêu, và về cái chết.

Người ta "vẽ mây nẩy trăng", tác giả thì mượn cái an nhiên bẩm sinh của loài mèo để nói vềsự rối rắm của loài người. ​Trong khi mèo sinh ra đã như một nhà hiền triết bình thản thưởng thức cuộc đời, thì loài người lại vật vã mổ xẻ cuộc đời bằng đủ dòng Triết học - nào ​Khắc kỷ, Epicurus, Hoài nghi, Điều hướng, đến Duy lý, Lãng mạn, Vị tha...

Khả năng tư duy trừu tượng là 1 món quà và cũng là gánh nặng của con người. Càng đọc về các quan điểm khác nhau về "bản chất người", mình càng thấy loài người giống một đống hỗn độn cô đơn và mâu thuẫn. Họ nỗ lực tìm cách vượt qua thực tại đau khổ ấy nhưng thất bại. Và họ vừa ghen tị vừa ngưỡng mộ loài mèo - loài sinh ra đã đạt đến trạng thái tự do tự tại và hạnh phúc tự thân.

Tóm lại nếu bạn tìm đến cuốn sách này (như mình đã từng nghĩ) để đọc những nghị luận vui vui và dễ đọc về mèo thì quay xe nhanh còn kịp :) Ý tưởng phát triển sách khá hay, nhưng cách viết khá khó đọc, và đừng đọc nó khi tâm trí bạn không đủ tập trung. Nhưng nếu bạn đã đi được đến cuối cuốn sách, thì 10 trang cuối sách là phần thưởng cho bạn - 10 điều gợi ý để đạt được cách sống thú vị như một chú mèo bên bệ cửa sổ.

"Sự vĩnh hằng không phải là một trạt tự khác của vạn vật, nó là khi thế giới được nhìn ngắm mà không có nỗi âu lo... Với con người, chiêm nghiệm là khi thoát khỏi việc sống; trong khi với loài mèo, đó là cảm giác của chính cuộc sống... Mèo cho chúng ta thấy rặng việc tìm kiếm ý nghĩa cũng giống như công cuộc tìm kiếm niềm hạnh phúc, tất cả đều là sự phân tâm. Ý nghĩa của cuộc đời là một cái chạm, một mùi hương, đến một cách tình cờ và biến mất trước khi chúng ta kịp hay biết"

Thêm một chút về thiết kế sách: sách bìa cứng và có dây đánh dấu sách đó - đẹp lắm. Nhưng mà phông chữ thì to quá, quá to so với kích thước trang giấy chỉ có 13x20cm.

[Ρένα Λούνα · Rating 5 out of 5]

«Ενώ η ευτυχία για τους ανθρώπους είναι μια τεχνητή κατάσταση, για τις γάτες είναι η φυσική τους κατάσταση. Εάν και εφόσον δεν έχουν εγκλωβιστεί σε περιβάλλοντα που τους είναι αφύσικα, οι γάτες δεν πλήττουν ποτέ. Η πλήξη είναι ο φόβος πως θα μείνει κανείς μόνος με τον εαυτό του. Οι γάτες χαίρονται να είναι ο εαυτός τους, ενώ οι άνθρωποι προσπαθούν να είναι ευτυχισμένοι δραπετεύοντας από τον εαυτό τους».

Το να διαβάζω αρνητικά σχόλια για αυτό το πανέμορφο βιβλίο είναι σαν να κάνω αναγκαστική παρέα με κάποιον σκυλάνθρωπο (δεν φταίνε οι υπέροχοι σκύλοι φυσικά), εχθρό των γατιών και φυσικά εχθρό της ελευθερίας (και της αγάπης). Κλασική περίπτωση βλάβης όταν (εντελώς τυχαία άντρες) επιμένουν στο αφήγημα της μίζερης γεροντοκόρης που γεμίζει το κενό της παρέας με γάτες (παινεύουν τον εαυτό τους όταν νομίζουν πως μπορούν να είναι ισάξια συντροφιά με αυτή μιας γάτας) και κρύβονται πίσω από σύντομα αρνητικά σχόλια, μέχρι να ψαρέψεις από μέσα τους το «δεν μου αρέσουν γιατί δεν με αγαπάνε με ανιδιοτέλεια». Τέλειο; Άρα συμφωνούν, αγαπάνε μόνο μέσα από σχέσεις εξουσίας. Αγαπάνε μόνο έναν δούλο.

Δεν θα μπω σε βάθος ανάπτυξης τού γιατί λάτρεψα το ανάγνωσμα, αλλά θα τα πω συντόμως για να σας παρακινήσω να πάτε να το αγοράσετε (μάλιστα είναι διαθέσιμο και στο Athens Cat Café). Είναι ιδανικό δώρο για γατόφιλοσοφοφίλους που ίσως έχετε (και σας παρακινώ να μας συστήσετε).
Ο κολλητός, John Gray, μου θύμισε την ασφάλεια που δημιουργεί και ο James Wood όταν αναλύει τη λογοτεχνία. Έδωσε την αφρόκρεμα του φιλοσοφικού συμπεράσματος καλύπτοντας κάθε πεδίο που μπορώ να φανταστώ: ιστορία, φιλοσοφία, ευτυχία, ηθική, αγάπη, χρόνος, θάνατος, ψυχή και φυσικά το ίδιο το νόημα της ζωής. Ο Gray ξεκινάει από την αρχή κάτι που μου θύμισε την κτηνίατρο να μου απαντάει με ηρεμία όταν είχα αναφέρει τα προβλήματα συμπεριφοράς που είχε παλιά ο Όλιβερ: Οι γάτες δεν έχουν εξημερωθεί.

Μάλιστα, είναι ένα ημιάγριο πλάσμα στην πόλη. Ο Gray συνεχίζει πως οι γάτες μάς έχουν εξημερώσει και μας απολαμβάνουν στον βαθμό που είναι εφικτό. Όταν, ας πούμε, δεν τις συσχετίζει κανείς με τον Διάβολο και δεν τις καίνε μέσα σε σακιά. Ο Gray θα ενώσει με έναν συμπεριληπτικό και έξυπνο τρόπο τους γατοφιλοσόφους γύρω από την έννοια της θρησκείας, της ψυχής, της επιστήμης και αυτή τη σχέση ανάμεσα σε άνθρωπο και γάτα.

Πολλοί σχολίασαν πως έχει νότες βιβλίου αυτοβοήθειας και πως ο συγγραφέας μάς παρακινεί να μάθουμε μερικά πράγματα από τη γατήσια ψυχή και φύση. Νομίζω δεν εννοεί αυτό ο Gray, παρά, ειρωνεύεται τα δικά μας στενά όρια και θαυμάζει την γατοπαρέα του, ξέροντας πως έχουν κάτι που δεν έχουμε και πως δεν μπορούμε να το κλέψουμε, παρά το ότι σαν είδος μας αρέσει να απογυμνώνουμε και να σκοτώνουμε ολόκληρο τον πλανήτη.

Προς το τέλος, το βιβλίο λειτούργησε για εμένα σα σεντούκι θησαυρού με όλη την έξυπνη διακειμενικότητά του, δίνοντας λογοτεχνικά αποσπάσματα γατόφιλων συγγραφέων, κάποια αυτοβιογραφικά, κάποια μυθοπλασία από το έργο τους, φέρνοντας τον αναγνώστη κοντά στα ανθρώπινα είδωλά του, αποκαλύπτοντας την ευάλωτη πλευρά των συγγραφέων, κάνοντας την παραδοχή πως η λογοτεχνία είναι πράγματι το καθρέφτισμα της ζωής μας και όχι μια ακαδημαϊκή μπούρδα για λίγους.

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meow

[Sandra Deaconu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cum văd eu viața... Dai cu piciorul în mobila care e acolo de ani. Te miri cât ești de prost, te plângi sau țipi la cineva de lângă tine, apoi țopăi unde ai treabă, în timp ce îți ștergi lacrimile apărute involuntar, și gata. Cum văd eu filosofia... Dai cu piciorul în mobila care e acolo de ani. Te întrebi dacă a fost ceva predestinat, cum credea Spinoza, sau ai fi putut alege să fii atent și să eviți destinul tragic. Apoi te întrebi multă vreme după cum să depășești momentul. Să te relaxezi undeva, ca un epicurian, să înduri durerea ca un stoic sau să suni la o casă de pompe funebre, pentru că nu se poate să se termine așa ușor problema cu degețelul lovit?!

Ce vreau e să spun e că filosofia este pentru mine poate cel mai inutil și obositor domeniu, ceva care complică viața mai mult și la care recurg de regulă oamenii cu prea mult timp liber, așa că eu am greșit, când am ales-o pentru că mi-am imaginat o lectură mult mai ușoară și simpatică, nu atât de serioasă. Filosofia felină pare a fi mai degrabă o capcană prin care Gray a încercat să păcălească oamenii să afle ce are el de spus și un curs introductiv în acest domeniu decât o lectură din care poți desprinde ceva folositor în lumea reală, dar e tocmai bună pentru cei care abia au deschis porțile filosofiei și vor să pășească în ea timid. Dacă iubiți pisicile, dar nu vă interesează ce a spus cineva acum sute de ani, atunci sunt șanse mari să fiți dezamăgiți. Dacă iubiți pisicile și filosofia, atunci veți fi încântați de legătura aceasta neobișnuită dintre ele. Pentru mine, însă, a avut prea multă filosofie aridă și prea puține pisici. Recenzia aici: https://bit.ly/3O8WCzo.

,,Nimeni nu vrea să-și pună capăt vieții; un sinucigaș este o persoană ucisă de lume.''

[Kin · Rating 3 out of 5]

แปลเสร็จแล้ว น��าจะออกต้นปีหน้า อ่านสนุกใช้ได้ แต่ช่วงท้ายๆ นี่ขัดใจมาก แปลไปเถียงไป มนุษย์ที่ช่างเป็นมนุษย์จริงๆ คิดไปเองว่าเข้าใจสิ่งนั้นสิ่งนี้ทั้งที่ก็ไม่ได้เข้าใจสิ่งที่ตัวเองเป็น

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book regarding cats and all their glory, this isn't it. Nor does it help us learn how they think or feel. I'd say 85% of this book is philosophical discussions w/ a few cat stories thrown in for good measure so that the Feline could be used in the title. And if you love cats (like I do), you probably don't want to read the cruelties inflicted upon them by humans through the years. Luckily, it's not long and I suppose there are a few comparisons of how cats deal with life as opposed to the way humans live. I just wouldn't recommend this book.

[şahan]

Much better if the author rather wrote a shorter (literary) essay. I don't get the idea of giving info: of certain philosophers, events, much of the time in detail. The good and important parts (parts concerning cats and our mentality) we get by skimming. This is not a bad book, but a good idea turned into a soulless book, without pondering its own possibilities.

[Anete · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cilvēki nevar būt kaķi, jo pārāk daudz domā. Punkts.

[Cláudia Azevedo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5
Este livro é muito pouco sobre gatos. Os filósofos citados pensaram o ser humano. Chega-se aos gatos por oposição. A própria explicação dos argumentos me pareceu confusa. Não fiquei com uma grande conclusão no fim, exceto o que eu já sabia: os gatos seguem a sua natureza. Agora se não têm consciência da morte e se não sofrem com isso, já não sei. Não precisava de Montesquieu nem de Pascal. 😊

[Théo d'Or]

- Sex, let me read, please . Stop meowing like a stupid cat, you're not going out anywhere, today.
- Meoooooww ??
- It's raining, Sex. Don't insist !
- Meoooooww !!!!!!
- Okay, okay. If you can tell me one single intelligent phrase , maybe I'II think again .
- Purrrfectly fair, then . " I think, therefore I nap ". What you say ?
- Hey, stop speaking human language, it inhibits me. But..why not .. Tell me, Sex, could life be just one cosmic litter box ?
- Oh, meow.. you humans and your complicated philosophies..I only like that great feline philosopher, Meowteau.
- Meowteau ? Who's that ?
- The one who said " He who contemplates the meaning of life without rubbing a cat's belly is missing the point entirely. "
- You don't say !!! Anything else ?
- Meowww.. Sure ! " Why reach for the stars when you can lounge on the couch ? " Meoww ?
- Hum.... not bad.. Tell me, Sex, I just read Gray's book, and I think you may help me. Can you ?
- Meoooooww....
- Okay. What do you think, are we humans simply chasing our tails in this crazy world ?
- Meow, meow, meooooow ! This book really hit the litter box. Humans are constantly chasing after something, whether it's that elusive red dot or the perfectinstagramselfie.
- He also argues that humans are inherently predisposed to suicide due to existential angst.
- Meow-meow ... if you ask me, the only thing humans are predisposed to is overfeeding us and not cleaning our litter box on time. As for suicide, I don't give a damn meow. You know, we cats have nine lives. Eight attempts would be quite boring.. However, as Schrödinger said, " I can be both alive and dead at the same time, as long as the box is comfy ".
- I could understand that....
Another interesting concept Gray explores is the idea of the eternal return, that everything repeats in an endless cycle. What you think ?
- Hum..meow... That reminds me of that great feline philosopher, Furredinand Nietzsche. He would say " What if , one day, all the cans of tuna you've ever eaten are served to you again ".. and Meow-tse Tung once paw-claimed " True happiness lies in a well-stocked treat jar and a nice, warm lap ".
- Well, Sex , no need for apropos. Maybe one day you'II see that " nice, warm lap ". Not today.

[Farzaneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

البته که کتاب واقعا در مورد گربه‌ها نیست، بلکه فلسفه و افکار جان گری، مدرس دانشگاه تو علوم سیاسی، فیلسوف و اقتصاددان رو در مورد دنیا شرح می‌ده و اون رو با تفکرات فلاسفه‌ی بزرگ دنیا از ارسطو گرفته تا شوپنهاور، دکارت و اسپینوزا مقایسه می‌کنه.
گری معتقده اکثر فلسفه‌ها و ایدئولوژی‌های دنیا نمی‌تونن واقعا به سوال‌های بنیادین انسان پاسخ بدن و بهتره به جای درگیر کردن دائم خودمون با این مسائل، از سبک زندگی گربه‌ها بیاموزیم و در حال زندگی کنیم، با طبیعت خودمون نجنگیم و به دنبال معنا و مفهومی نباشیم چون در انتها این خودمونیم که تو این مسیر دچار اضطراب، پریشانی و درماندگی خواهیم شد.
گری بر خلاف محتوای بسیاری از ایدئولوژی‌ها به برتری انسان‌ها باور نداره و اعتقاد داره بیش از حد بر آگاهی و قدرت عقل و منطق آدما نسبت به موجودات دیگه تاکید شده و معنا و مفهومی پشت سختی‌ها و مشکلاتی که تو زندگی انسان به وجود میاد نیست؛ اینکه هر چیزی حتما به دلیلی اتفاق میوفته و در پس هر سختی‌ای حتما آسانی خواهد آمد.
به نظر گری فلسفه مدام می‌خواد ما رو به این سمت که معنا و هدفی تو زندگی هر کدوممون هست، و همین معنا و جست و جوشه که انسان رو خوشبخت و خوشحال می‌کنه، سوق بده. ولی گربه‌ها که دلیلی نداره خودشون رو درگیر پیدا کردن مفهوم و معنای زندگی کنن، زندگی بهتر و راحت‌تری از ما دارن و احساس بدبختی نمی‌کنن.
گری می‌گه ما در هرحال نمی‌تونیم به درجه‌ی فوق‌العاده‌ی گربه‌ای! نایل بیایم و باز هم دوست داریم کلی داستان‌سرایی برای زندگیمون بکنیم، پس حداقل بهتره زندگی‌مون "یه قفسه پر از داستان کوتاه باشه تا یه رمان بلند."
اون می‌گه برای گربه‌ها "یک زندگی خوب او زندگی ایه که احساس و استشمام بشه، نه تصویری مبهم از چیزی در دوردست." گری معتقده دنیا تو بهترین حالت‌ِ ممکن هم بسیار پیش‌بینی‌ناپذیره، زندگی‌های ما هم، پس بهتره به جای غرق کردن افکارمون تو این آینده‌ی پیش‌بینی‌نشده، مثل گربه‌ها تو حال زندگی کنیم و به جای درگیری دائم ذهنمون با اینکه چه چیزهایی خوشحالمون می‌کنه فقط هر لحظه‌ی شادی که سر راهمون سبز شدو دو دستی بقاپیم.

[Alexandru Gogoașă · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte care mi-a plăcut tare mult, chiar daca este mult mai multă filosofie decât "pisiceala", cele două sunt îmbinate perfect.
Recomand cartea!

[loonchies · Rating 3 out of 5]

ดูปกอันแสนน่ารักนั่นสิ The Cat Thinker
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น้ำเยอะ ฟุ้งฝอยเป็นคุ้งเป็นแคว อย่ามา IELTS ได้ไหม ศัพท์ไม่ระดับนั้น หมายถึงลักษณะการแต่งประโยคที่เวิ่นเว้อบางที
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บางทีต้นพารากราฟพูดถึงอย่างนึงอยู่ นึกจะพูดถึงอีกเรื่องก็พูดเลย อย่าเรียกช่วงต้นว่าเกริ่นเลยถ้าการเชื่อมความจะทำแบบนี้ อ่านแล้วจะขมวดคิ้ว ห้ะ อยู่หน่อย ๆ ขอมีชั้นเชิงกว่านี้อีกนิดได้ไหม ห้วนไปรึเปล่า คือความพยายามจะเชื่อมปรัชญากับแมวไม่เป็นมิตรกับเราเท่าไร

อยู่ดี ๆ ก็กระโดดมาเรื่องวิวัฒนาการและชีววิทยา~ ตรงนี้ก็ดีแต่ปรัชญาชั้นละ?! จะอ้างว่าวิทยาศาสตร์ก็เป็นส่วนหนึ่งของปรัชญา? ก็นะก็อ้างได้แหละ

อ่านไปคิดว่าชื่อหนังสือค่อนข้าง clickbait มาก
คือตัวสารที่สื่อบางช่วงก็น่าสนใจดี เช่น การวิวัฒนาการอยู่ร่วมกับมนุษย์ แมวในฐานะตัวแทนสิ่งชั่วร้าย นิยามความเป็นมนุษย์ของนักปรัชญาต่าง ๆ จริยธรรมที่ควรจะเป็น ความหมายของการมีชีวิต ฯลฯ
แต่มันไม่ใช่สิ่งที่เราคิดว่าจะได้อ่านจากหนังสือชื่อนี้ไง
จะบอกว่าจับแพะชนแกะก็ไม่ใช่ด้วย
คือพูดถึงแนวคิดทางปรัชญา นิยามสิ่งต่าง ๆ ในแง่ปรัชญา แล้วค่อยจับแมวมาใส่เป็นช่วง ๆ
ตรงไหนพอจะมีช่องเชื่อมได้ค่อยเชื่อม
เขื่อมในแง่เปรียบเทียบความคิดมนุษย์กับความคิดแมว ~ แต่คือเหมือนจะไม่เอาความเป็นมนุษย์เข้าไปจับแมว แต่ก็พูดด้วยความมั่นใจว่าแมวเป็นแบบนั้นแบบนี้ ซึ่งต่างกับมนุษย์ตรงนั้นตรงนี้ คือมันก็คือการคิดเอาของมนุษย์(ผู้เขียน)อยู่ดี
บางช่วงจะเอ้ะ ๆ หน่อย
บางช่วงก็เขียนดีคือไม่หงุดหงิด ส��่งนี้มาจากการสังเกตพฤติกรรมแมวนะ แมวใช้ชีวิตต่างกับมนุษย์ที่คิดนู่นนั่นนี่มากมาย
คิดว่าอ่านแล้วรู้สึกว่าวิถีแมวนี่ก็สงบดีนะ คืออย่าไปคิดอะไรมาก เพราะมันคิดไม่ได้รึเปล่า เลยชิลล์ อันนี้ก็ไม่รู้ //แมวก็มีความยากลำบากของแมวนะ

แมวน้อยมาก ตั้งใจมาอ่านแมว!! แอบหรี่ตานิดนึงตรงนี้ คล้าย ๆ โดนหลอก
แต่ก็เข้าใจว่าทำไมมาแนวนี้ เพราะเอาจริงแมวมันก็ไม่ใช่มนุษย์จะมาจับมันใส่คอนเซปต์อะไรแบบมนุษย์ก็คงต้องมาอิหรอบนี้ก่อน เกริ่นไป ชักแม่น้ำทั้งห้าไป

มีอ้างอิงวรรณกรรมอื่น แถมสปอยล์เนื้องเรื่องเรียบร้อย
ไปตีความแมวในวรรณกรรม พฤติกรรมตัวละคร ความคิดผู้เขียนเสียอย่างงั้นด้วย
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เนื้อหาในหนังสือส่วนที่มีแมว ทำให้เราสงสัยว่าถ้าไม่มีแมวแล้วเราจะเป็นอย่างไร พฤติกรรมเราจะเปลี่ยนไปไหม แล้วถ้าแมวไม่มีมนุษย์แมวจะไม่ได้มีผลกระทบอะไรมากอย่างที่หนังสืออ้างจริงรึเปล่า มนุษย์ทำให้แมวเปลี่ยนไปบ้างไหม? ยังไงบ้าง?
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คืออ่านจบแล้วก็ได้ข้อคิดเรื่องการใช้ชีวิตของแมว ชวนสังเกตความแตกต่างของมนุษย์กับแมวในแง่ความคิด ดูแมวแล้วสะท้อนดูตน บางทีใช้ชีวิตวิถีแมวบ้างอาจจะลดความวุ่นวายลงก็ได้
ก็อาจจะมีประโยชน์กับเราอยู่บ้างละมัง

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what you would expect from a book of this type. This book spells out in words what any keen observer of cats already knows - there are lessons to be learned from how cats live their lives. There are historical references, stories, and discussions of cat-themed books by various authors that are woven into the chapters. I wished there were more of them but I did find some pointers to books I will want to read by Colette and Tanizaki. This is a somewhat "cerebral" treatment of the subject matter and there were parts (historical cruelties), that almost made me stop reading, so I would NOT recommend this book to anyone looking for happy or light reading. I did like the book, even if it's not for general audiences.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats are popular and cute, same as many books devoted to them. Thankfully, this is not the case. Not knowing the author, I expected some light anecdotes and notes on cats' behavior. Instead, I received a fascinating tour through the history of philosophy and I was left thinking about the meaning of life - both human and feline.

Despite the title, humans are in the center of this essay; nonetheless, it is one of the best books about cats' nature. I was not surprised that Gray is quoting two of my favorite feline books: "The Lion in the Living Room" and "The Tribe of Tiger: Cats and Their Culture". You can see that author has a deep knowledge and understanding of animals, even if I don’t agree with all his views.

It is a slow read, but very pleasant, with beautiful language and provocative insights. I recommend it to everyone who likes to think.

Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Gray's skewering of serious, purpose-driven worldviews. Romanticism, existentialism, humanism, communism, Christianity, stoicism... nothing fares very well under his scrutiny. We are left with a very taoist philosophy of living by the moment and in keeping with one's innate nature, as it shows itself. If we cannot find joy in being ourselves, and in seeking what keeps us most joyful, Gray and his cats give us permission to pursue the various human diversions of society, politics, etc.
We live in a time when purpose and progress are watchwords for a tech elite bent on reducing our lives as way stations on the way to some utopia. More people than I can count suffer and even die in the name of some purpose, ideal, and utopian condition, whether it's an empire, an afterlife, a nation, or some other belief. Gray is, at very least, reminding us that life is a process and that process is its own end, and joy and happiness can emerge from living in the moment and keeping it simple.

[Stephanie Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read that discusses a little about cats and a whole lot about old men’s philosophies.

[Deepika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feline Philosophy — Cats and The Meaning of Life is John Gray’s one-hundred page long answer to the questions: Why are we here? Are we more intelligent than non-human animals? Are we right about feeling superior? Where are we heading? How do we cure existential dread? While the long answer is the book, the short answer is: Simply live like cats.

John Gray starts from the very beginning. 12,000 years ago, cats chose to cohabit with humans for reasons which didn’t stray from survival. Their proximity made ancient Egyptians believe that there weren’t many loyal companions like cats, and so, they were taken along on their final journey, the one to a higher realm. The ancient Egyptians also believed that cats were immortals; they were worshipped, celebrated, and trusted as superior beings who could guide mortals to afterlife. None of the adulation got into their heads because cats have always been selfless, they don’t recognise and acknowledge themselves as individuals, and so, they are free to live their lives by honouring their true nature without any anxiety about not existing. When the idea of selfhood is not appealing to them, how would death, passage of time, their limited lifespan make them neurotic?

The argument is further strengthened by excerpts from books written by other philosophers and writers whose friends, love-interests, characters in their books were cats, by referring to what religions teach but which cats practise already, and by recalling incidents from lives of thinkers who did draconian experiments on cats to understand many facets of the human condition. From Patricia Highsmith to Tanizaki Junichiro, writers have been fascinated by how their characters were reduced and lifted by their feline companions. John Gray, with undivided focus, breaks all expectations and cruel judgement imposed on cats, steps on the shards holding a bullhorn to his mouth, and strongly recommends that we wouldn’t suffer, our minds wouldn’t be like wounds, we wouldn’t be so cared if we paused and observed this tiny animal who lives each moment like this universe is folded and stored in the moment. That’s the antidote.