Monday 21 June 2021

Octopodidae

 

Poul Anderson, "In Memoriam" IN Anderson, All One Universe (New York, 1997), pp. 57-67.

See In Memoriam: Summary:

"intelligent octopodidae lasted for twelve million years, longer than man;"

Let us expand on that summary:

some octopodidae began to outlive their procreation (don't they, already?);

they cared for their young;

their lifespan lengthened;

their descendants, still tentacled, worked rock, shell, bone and coral, communicated linguistically, using gestures and color changes, and "...practiced religious rites and subtle arts..." (p. 65);

however, confined to salt water, they never advanced beyond the Stone Age and adapted so well that they ceased to innovate;

caste societies predetermined individual lives in elaborate detail;

"...intelligence atrophied..." (ibid.);

unable to cope with change, the species became extinct.

I have started to read:

Peter Godfrey-Smith, Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life (London, 2018).

Other reading illuminates Anderson's works.

5 comments:

R. Scott Russell said...

Hello Paul,

I recently watched a documentary called "My Octopus Teacher" by a South African film maker named Craig Foster. It was a remarkable account about an octopus that dwelled in a kelp forest near Mr. Foster's home. It was pretty amazing. The photography was remarkable and I appreciated the dignity with which the film maker treated the sea and the creatures within.

"In Memoriam" was a good, if at times shocking, tale. The narrative sweep was quite compelling. If the octopus does go the way described in the story, I have to wonder if music will be a part of that culture. Someone made a joke once about an octopus orchestra. Maybe not so impossible?

Cheers, Scott

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Scott,

The point of this new book is that octopus consciousness is so different as to be alien.

Paul.

R. Scott Russell said...

Paul,

Intriguing. I will look for this. Thanks for the recommend!

Scott

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Scott,

But they are not as intelligent as us! They are neither social nor linguistic.

Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Scott and Paul!

Scott: but the point Anderson made was that, unable to advance beyond a Stone Age level of technology AND becoming am ossified race with castes, the intelligent octopodidae ATROPHIED and became extinct.

Paul: "In Memoriam" was certainly one of Anderson's grimmer pieces! It reads like a natural sequel to "Murphy's Hall.

Ad astra! Sean