Philosophie für Hunde- und Katzenfreunde: Tiere verstehen

by Lars Fredrik Händler Svendsen, Fredrik Händler

How do animals perceive the world? What does it really feel like to be a cat or a dog? In Understanding Animals, Lars Svendsen investigates how humans can attempt to understand the lives of other animals. The book delves into animal communication, intelligence, self-awareness, loneliness, and grief, but most fundamentally how humans and animals can cohabit and build a form of friendship. Svendsen provides examples from many different animal species—from chimpanzees to octopus—but his main focus is on cats and dogs: the animals that many of us are closest to in our daily lives.

Drawing upon both philosophical analysis and the latest scientific discoveries, Svendsen argues that the knowledge we glean from our relationships with our pets is as valid and insightful as any scientific study of human-animal relations. With this entertaining and thought-provoking book, animal lovers and pet owners will gain a deeper understanding of what it is like to be an animal—and in turn, a human.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Lars Fredrik Händler Svendsen is a Norwegian author and philosopher who is professor at the University of Bergen. He has published several books translated into 24 languages. He is also engaged as project manager in the think tank Civita. In 2008 he was awarded the Meltzer Prize for outstanding research, and in 2010 he was awarded the prisoners' Testament.

Reviews

[Kathy Fogarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this but I think Alain de Botton has spoiled me for philosophy writing. I found my mind wandering a little more than I like when reading. Clearly a great lover of animals and the notion of applying his philosophical knowledge to animals and how we think about them was great. I was pretty taken with the octopus chapter.

[Derya Karasu Kurşun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okuması ve anlamlandirilmasi oldukça eğlenceli, yer yer verdiği kaynaklar konuyu derinlemesine incelemek isteyenlere yardimci olur nitelikte. Her hayvanseverin kitaplığında olmalı.

[Ayşenur Mulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am indebted to this book for its clear explanation of basic concepts in human-animal studies. Svendsen gives a really nice, to-the-point overview of key philosophical works in animal studies. As the field increasingly moves toward questions of animal perception, the animal gaze, and what it means to experience being an animal, this book stands out as an essential reading.
I was also particularly grateful for his clear summary of Uexküll's concept of Umwelt.
It was a fun reading!

[David Risstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 180 page friendly philosophical journey through some of the reasons why we don't understand other animals as well as we could. Written in a gentle discursive way by someone who, Swedishly, clearly loves both philosophy and animals Understanding Animals eases some of us towards a much needed humility that may arrive when we understand that difference doesn't necessarily connote superiority.

The book is dispersed with factual observation and discussion, rather than saturated with scientific references, which will suit different readers differently. Having read a lot of academic material in this area, at times I felt there was more to be said on some topics, but that would change its nature and readability for others.

Having lived with two beautiful and intelligence German Shepherd dogs for over 20 years, Rosa and Hannah. I am already bound to the idea that animals deserve our respect and admiration. Understanding Animals, in both the reading and application, may lead you to a similar place.

[Аля Кобза · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга сповнена цікавих фактів, мудрих думок і величезної любові до тварин. Оскільки я поділяю любов до тварин з паном Свендсеном, не скажу, що тут було аж надто багато нового. Але йому вдалося, як завжди, чудово поставити рамку дослідження, виділити ключові проблеми і задати тон для будь-яких подальших досліджень.

Улюбленим для мене став розділ про свідомість у тварин. Я загалом люблю філософію свідомості, але класичні автори завжди вводили мене у якийсь неприємний стан недовіри - я ж б ніколи не була схильною вважати, що живий світ є настільки сухим, пустим і роботизованим, як його часом описують. Тому те, як Ларс Свендсен описує типи свідомості, свідомість тварин, само-свідомість (чи самоусвідомлення) та самість надзвичайно мені імпонувало.

Вважаю цей текст дуже важливим. Це щось більше, аніж якийсь нонфікшн чи навіть напів есеїстична праця з філософії. Це чергове нагадування, що тварини - і дикі, і домашні улюбленці, і про свійські тварини - є такими ж мислячими, живиими істотами, як і люди, і цим не можна нехтувати. Хай прірва між нашими видами і велика, але людина є частиною цього світу, а не протиставленням йому. Я в щирому дитячому захваті та ридитиму цю книгу абсолютно всім!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it was a little difficult to grasp at the beginning, by the end of the book I was wholly absorbed and absolutely fascinated. Svendsen makes philosophy easy to understand and accessible, and his work has such a great flow that it can sometimes be hard to put down (normally not the case with non-fiction!). He discusses some very interesting topics and questions here and does a wonderful job of connecting them all to his larger themes. I learned a lot from this book, which is all I can ask for from non-fiction, and it gave me a new perspective on many things. I can definitely see myself coming back to this over and over again and always gaining something new.

[Cody Bastida · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of connections is how I like to think of this book. It's an easy read with many connections to other philosophical thinkers and ideas about what it means to be human. Interestingly I think this is a good basis for Transhumanist Philosophy if one wanted to go down that route.

[Paria · Rating 3 out of 5]

من این کتاب رو از نشر بیدگل دارم.کتاب خوبیه مخصوصا برای کسانی ک حیوون خونگی دارند.البته من یک چهارم کتاب رو خوندم(۵۰صفحه)و دیگه حوصلم نکشید ادامه بدم.به احتمال زیاد در آینده که حیوون خونگی داشته باشم دوباره بخونم این کتاب رو.نکات جالبی گفته.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Premda životinje ne treba smatrati moralnim čimbenicima, one mogu pokazivati ponašanje koje je analogno moralnom ili protomoralno.

[Andrew Pitkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starts on a great premise - can animals have capacity to be understood by humans? Do they have a language? How does one define language?

I love animal epistemology - it's such a brilliant area, considering that it's also untapped for potential. I pay close attention to my dogs, and know a lot goes on in their brains each day. They're quite vivid communicators, too.

[Alexandra_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had the potential to be more interesting, the writer expresses his thoughts and the main philosophical currents on animals in a clear and nice manner. However, I found it difficult to finish the book, like I was easily bored by it.