In thinking so highly of work we are aberrant. Few other cultures have ever done so. For nearly all of history and all prehistory, work was an indignity.” If you believe that humans are animals, there can be no such thing as the history of humanity, only the lives of particular humans. If we speak of the history of the species at all, it is only to signify the unknowable sum of these lives. As with other animals, some lives are happy, others wretched. None has a meaning that lies beyond itself. On July 1, 2002, Straw Dogs finally was certified unedited on VHS and DVD. This version was uncut, and therefore included the second rape scene, in which in the BBFC's opinion "Amy is clearly demonstrated not to enjoy the act of violation". [38] The BBFC wrote that:

Humanity and other animals | Books | The Guardian

Gray, John; Pelczynski, Zbigniew, eds. (1984). Conceptions of Liberty. London: Athlone Press. ISBN 978-0485112368. A film was released this month 49 years ago which even to this day proves to be one of the most controversial ever made. George Crowder (2006). "Gray and the Politics of Pluralism". Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy. 9 (2): 171–188. doi: 10.1080/13698230600655008. S2CID 144224371. Nothing will get you thinking as much as this brilliant book.” — George Walden, The Sunday Telegraph At once daunting and enthralling, Gray's remarkable new book shows us what it would be like to live without the distraction of consolations.” — Adam PhillipsStraw Dogs has received particular praise from English author J. G. Ballard, who wrote that the book "challenges most of our assumptions about what it means to be human, and convincingly shows that most of them are delusions" and described it "a powerful and brilliant book", "an essential guide to the new millennium" and "the most exhilarating book I have read since Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene." [1] Another English author, Will Self called the book "a contemporary work of philosophy devoid of jargon, wholly accessible, and profoundly relevant to the rapidly evolving world we live in" and wrote "I read it once, I read it twice and took notes. I arranged to meet its author so I could publicize the book – I thought it that good." [2] The last quote is interesting. Just like individuals are deluded, societies are just a mass collection of deluded individuals. On a collective level, we decide to invade Iraq and Vietnam and believe the world will be a better place by our interference. How wrong we were…. Gray, John (1996). Mill on Liberty: A Defence (2nded.). London & New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415124744. His 2002 book Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals has received particular praise. J. G. Ballard wrote that the book "challenges most of our assumptions about what it means to be human, and convincingly shows that most of them are delusions" and described it "a powerful and brilliant book", "an essential guide to the new millennium" and "the most exhilarating book I have read since Richard Dawkins's The Selfish Gene." [24] Will Self called the book "a contemporary work of philosophy devoid of jargon, wholly accessible, and profoundly relevant to the rapidly evolving world we live in" and wrote "I read it once, I read it twice and took notes. I arranged to meet its author so I could publicise the book – I thought it that good." [15] [24]

Straw Dogs Quotes by John Gray - Goodreads Straw Dogs Quotes by John Gray - Goodreads

Human knowledge is one thing, human wellbeing another. There is no predetermined harmony between the two. The examined life may not be worth living.” My take: I’m more of an optimist, so I don’t share Gray’s pessimism in this arena. There’s plenty of evidence that the world is also getting safer. However, it’s good to pay attention to contrarian ideas.But we are naive to think we will learn lessons. People elect politicians who are “active”, to give us a sense that the future will be better. Gray, John (2021). Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0141988429. Gray explains that the false ideology of only the examined life is worth living came from the belief that truth and goodness were one and the same: BBC Radio 4 – A Point of View, Greece and the Meaning of Folly". Bbc.co.uk. 21 August 2011 . Retrieved 9 August 2013. Tragedy is born of myth, not morality. Prometheus and Icarus are tragic heroes. Yet none of the myths in which they appear has anything to do with moral dilemmas. Nor have the greatest Greek tragedies.