ALTHOUGH hormones and evolution largely determine monogamous behaviour in humans and llamas, why is it “love” that keeps humans, but not llamas, together? Peter Cave starts each of his 33 chapters with a hypothetical, philosophical “puzzle” like this, then analyses it and concludes with a relevant moral or generalisation.
Despite the repetitious format, the puzzles are engaging and most are mentally stimulating. Best of all, many spring to life unexpectedly, triggered by mundane incidents. For example, Cave’s conundrums manifested themselves one evening as I wondered why Gabriel Faure’s Requiem melts me, then watched news coverage of the devastation caused…
