What the Cat Knows (2020) | Hacker News Reader

What the Cat Knows (2020)

newstatesman.com

8 pointswhatami9 comments

``` There is a type of flourishing available to a cat that is only rarely available to us. A human is never simply what she is, but is always striving to become something she is, as yet, not. This is the result of a self-image – a conception of herself and what her life should be – which, when unrealised, can occasion frustration and despair. ```

This part of the article jumped out at me. I spent about 5 years of my life on a start-up that eventually failed. I now have a pretty comfy tech job, and definitely earn enough money to be comfortable.

But there is always this restlessness that I feel. I learnt a lot of things in my 5 years, and feel I could do a better job if I were to start another company. I almost feel like those 5 years would be wasted if I don't take what I learnt and put it into my next company.

Striving to become something more is exactly what makes humans special. It is ironic and sad that in the article it is presented as a disadvantage.

This is an eloquent elaboration on the subject: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s2SSedCJ29M

What's good about being special or being in a state of desire? Isn't being "happy" or at least "content" a more logical goal?

Maybe this boils down to the question: Would you willingly enter the matrix, a fabricated world where you can be happy or fight in the real world? I assume you would say "no", while I would say "yes".

What is special is the possibility of growth - what a cat can be is very limited compared to what a human can be.

Your reference to the Matrix is flawed in that you assume the "real" world is somehow not "fabricated", but it actually is via your sense perceptions. ;)

This is a really great question. The West has been working on this particular question for the past 2,500 years. Michael Sugrue's lectures on YouTube do a nice job surveying the development of thought in the West over that period of time.

Once upon a time language use made us special. But other animals have some sort of language.

Once upon a time tool use. Again, other animals do that.

I think "striving to become something more" means "learning." Or maybe yearning and learning. Other creatures learn.

We keep redefining intelligence such that only humans have "true Scotsman" intelligence. So far it's the only thing I know the makes us special.

Let it be.

“I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.”

― D.H. Lawrence

This article really misses out on using the word "metacognition". Seems like that is what the article is all about.

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