Why your cat is the best philosopher
A young girl looks out of the classroom window. It’s the end of the day, and she’s bored. She spots a goldfinch land on the ground outside. It hops about and twitches for whatever reasons goldfinches do that, and then takes off. It swoops and dives around the playground, as if doing it all for the girl. Oh, how she would like to fly. Humans have long looked to the animal kingdom for inspiration.…
A young girl gazing out of her classroom window, bored during the final moments of the day, spots a goldfinch on the ground outside. The bird hops around and twitches, only to take flight, reminiscent of the girl's own desire to fly. Humans throughout history have often looked to animals for inspiration, admiring their abilities such as flight, speed, strength, and sociability.
Religions commonly incorporate animal imagery, and flags frequently depict bold figures like lions, eagles, or wolves. Philosophers have also explored the philosophical aspects of animals, even in the earliest historical records. John Gray's book Feline Philosophy examines what we can learn from spending time with cats. According to Gray, we should adopt some feline characteristics to improve our lives.
The author introduces a hypothetical cat named Mo, who lives without seeking meaning, searching for a "better" self, or enduring existential dread. Mo simply hunts, sleeps, and basks in the sunlight. When experiencing suffering, Mo does not amplify it by questioning why. Instead, she accepts the world as it is, without inventing systems or stories to cope.
Gray argues that while we cannot become a cat, we can adopt some feline traits and perspective. By doing so, we can alleviate our existential struggles and find greater contentment in life.
Written by urgent.news from Big Think's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
