Although I have been describing the members or "nodes" of the galactic brain as inorganic intelligences, the omniscient narrator of Genesis describes each member as:
"...a local complex of organisms, machines, and their interrelationships." (p. 101)
He explains his use of the term "organisms." These units maintain themselves, reproduce at need and are conscious in a range from rudimentary to transcendent. Thus, they are not mechanistic but organic even though very little of their material substance comprises carbon compounds and most of their processes are quantum mechanical. They number in the many millions and the number increases steeply because the nodes reproduce as soon as they arrive at new destinations anywhere in the Milky Way and beyond. Any node can split into new minds with whatever bodies and sensors it needs. Thus, a node can be more than one mind.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Sort of like von Neumann machines. I'm reminded of Anderson's much earlier story "Epilogue" after the human race had destroyed itself in a nuclear war. After a vastly long time had passed, "life" started evolving again using machines.
Sean
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