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:
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
Scott,
The point of this new book is that octopus consciousness is so different as to be alien.
Paul.
Paul,
Intriguing. I will look for this. Thanks for the recommend!
Scott
Scott,
But they are not as intelligent as us! They are neither social nor linguistic.
Paul.
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
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