Empathy, in this tradition, is the heart of the good life. Cats, on the other hand – except where their kittens are concerned – show few signs of sharing the feelings of others. They may sense when their human companions are distressed, and stay with them through a time of trouble. They may give succour to the sick and dying. But cats are not sacrificing themselves in any of these roles. Just by being there, they are giving human beings relief from sorrow. As predators, a highly developed sense of empathy would be dysfunctional for cats. That is why they lack this capacity. It is also why the
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