The Philosophy of Dogs

[AverageBozo]

A dog’s philosophy: when you come across something new, first sniff it out, if you can’t eat it, then screw it. If you can’t screw it, then piss on it.

[LuckyR]

Dogs, like humans, have an us and them mentality. Because of their breeding, humans are part of their "us" group. Them are either prey, to be feared or ignored. Not unlike humans.

[AverageBozo]

Three Laws of a Dog’s Philosophy:

First Law:

A dog may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law:

A dog must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law:

A dog must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

[Sy Borg]

My own philosophy of dogs

Dogs have been so important to, and so inextricably entwined with, humanity that, really, we could be called a composite species, say, Humogs. Those who detest dogs might object but, really, their inability to open up to other species is their problem.

It should be said that the old myth of wolf pack alphas is just that - a myth. If many wolves that don't know each other are thrown together in a facility, they do indeed form power blocs. Alphas will emerge that violently enforce their rule. This is exactly analogous to human prisons.

In the wild, however, wolf packs always consist of parents and their offspring, and sometimes and extra generation. The parents are not violent but are loving and gentle with their young pack. This is analogous to human families.

So, when a domesticated relative of wolves - akin to a baby of a slave race taken from its family - moves into your home, you take on the role of caring parent. You are not a prison alpha and there is no need to assert dominance over the dog. Ultimately, dogs will answer to "Come" if they think they are coming to a good time - food, pats, games, general friendliness. And a happy, confident dog displays so much more complexity and interesting peccadilloes than a fearful one.

All true. Life is more than competition and conflict.
Dogs exemplify the best aspects of cooperation and affection.
My dog is the glue that binds us together, and give me joy every day.

Dogs are one of our few links to nature, being just a little more in tune than we are.

It's is interesting to watch humanity's continuing divorce from the wild. Whatever humans are growing into, I see many growing pains ahead. As populations continue to grow, ever more people will only interact with other humans. They will fear, or be repulsed by, all other life forms, escept maybe certain tame plants. Synthetic pressure-cooker societies.

Dogs and bushland don't present that complexity.

[Sculptor1]

My own philosophy of dogs

Dogs have been so important to, and so inextricably entwined with, humanity that, really, we could be called a composite species, say, Humogs. Those who detest dogs might object but, really, their inability to open up to other species is their problem.

It should be said that the old myth of wolf pack alphas is just that - a myth. If many wolves that don't know each other are thrown together in a facility, they do indeed form power blocs. Alphas will emerge that violently enforce their rule. This is exactly analogous to human prisons.

In the wild, however, wolf packs always consist of parents and their offspring, and sometimes and extra generation. The parents are not violent but are loving and gentle with their young pack. This is analogous to human families.

So, when a domesticated relative of wolves - akin to a baby of a slave race taken from its family - moves into your home, you take on the role of caring parent. You are not a prison alpha and there is no need to assert dominance over the dog. Ultimately, dogs will answer to "Come" if they think they are coming to a good time - food, pats, games, general friendliness. And a happy, confident dog displays so much more complexity and interesting peccadilloes than a fearful one.

All true. Life is more than competition and conflict.
Dogs exemplify the best aspects of cooperation and affection.
My dog is the glue that binds us together, and give me joy every day.

Dogs are one of our few links to nature, being just a little more in tune than we are.

It's is interesting to watch humanity's continuing divorce from the wild. Whatever humans are growing into, I see many growing pains ahead. As populations continue to grow, ever more people will only interact with other humans. They will fear, or be repulsed by, all other life forms, escept maybe certain tame plants. Synthetic pressure-cooker societies.

Dogs and bushland don't present that complexity.

Vegetarianism and Veganism are accelerating our neglect of understanding of nature. Those that follow these ideologies are in denial of their true selves.
Shrinkwrappedgermgermfreesantisedblisterpackedprocessed.

[Sculptor1]

Three Laws of a Dog’s Philosophy:

First Law:

A dog may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Second Law:

A dog must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Third Law:

A dog must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

For advanced dogs of the future
The Zeroth Law:
A dog should not let human/dog society to come to harm.
First and subsequent laws only apply if they do not conflict with the Zeroth Law.

[mystery]

A dog’s philosophy: when you come across something new, first sniff it out, if you can’t eat it, then screw it. If you can’t screw it, then piss on it.

I will steel that one, and use it. Humor and truth together.

[UniversalAlien]

For advanced dogs of the future
The Zeroth Law:
A dog should not let human/dog society to come to harm.
First and subsequent laws only apply if they do not conflict with the Zeroth Law.

Sculptor1 wrote: ↑
Result: cognitive dissonance. Everything I see conradicts by "beliefs".
I have no idea why you have put me on this hypothetical.
If Evolution is creative, then why did the dogs not already have humans as their slaves. We've been co-existing fro at least 30,000 years - more than any other domesticant.

You see this is how Evolution is creative - I've yet to meet a dog that was a 'hypocrite'

Even the vicious Pit Bull I mentioned was clear in its intent and feelings

"Thus Spoke Zarathustra"
- Friedrich Nietzsche

[Belindi]

Sculpture wrote:

The cost of keeping my dog to the environment is much less that keeping YOU alive. So on a balance of needs, I'd rather feed you to my dog than give her up.

I quite understand. I feel the same about my dog and you. However you and I lack the power to feed any human to our dogs. We can vote to make it illegal to farm puppies, and breed dogs irresponsibly.

It is good to make people aware of the environmental and welfare costs of and to dogs.