#5699
Mentioned in 11 episodes
Other Minds
The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness
Book • 2016
In this book, Peter Godfrey-Smith delves into the evolution of intelligence and consciousness, particularly in cephalopods such as octopuses and cuttlefish.
He argues that these creatures represent an independent experiment in the evolution of large brains and complex behavior, distinct from the evolutionary paths of vertebrates.
Godfrey-Smith draws on his own scuba-diving experiences and the latest scientific research to explore how these animals' unique neural structures, including decentralized brain-like systems in their arms, enable their remarkable intelligence and adaptability.
The book also reflects on the broader implications for understanding human consciousness and the nature of subjective experience.
He argues that these creatures represent an independent experiment in the evolution of large brains and complex behavior, distinct from the evolutionary paths of vertebrates.
Godfrey-Smith draws on his own scuba-diving experiences and the latest scientific research to explore how these animals' unique neural structures, including decentralized brain-like systems in their arms, enable their remarkable intelligence and adaptability.
The book also reflects on the broader implications for understanding human consciousness and the nature of subjective experience.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 11 episodes
Mentioned by Luisa Rodriguez as one of her favorite books, exploring the origins of consciousness and intelligence through octopuses.
47 snips
#203 – Peter Godfrey-Smith on interfering with wild nature, accepting death, and the origin of complex civilisation
Mentioned by 
Sean Carroll as the first book in a trilogy about octopuses and what they teach us about thinking.
Sean Carroll as the first book in a trilogy about octopuses and what they teach us about thinking.
43 snips
249 | Peter Godfrey-Smith on Sentience and Octopus Minds
Recommended by Tim Bayne for its philosophically deep and scientifically informed reflection on consciousness in octopuses.
13 snips
Can we measure consciousness?
Mentioned in the episode description as the next book to be reviewed.
13 snips
Supplementary Material 24: Dialogos with Greek Gods, the Metaphysics of Pepe, and Red-Pilled Embarrassment
Mentioned during a book club discussion.
Supplementary Material 25: Ancient Pyramids, Sesame Street Monsters, & MORE Lab Leak Discourse
Recommended by Deblina Bhattacharjee for its exploration of octopus consciousness and the evolution of consciousness.
439: Deep Learning for Machine Vision
Mentioned by Tom Lum as a book about octopuses, highlighting their intelligence and alien-like nature.
72: Former Cryptids & The Art of a Scary Story
Recommended by Nicholas Shea as a relatively easy read delving into a very deep point about consciousness.
Concepts: How the Brain Constructs Reality, Emotional Experience and Who You Are - w/ Nicholas Shea
Mentioned by Vas Christodoulou in relation to the growing interest in octopuses and their intelligence.
Ray Nayler - What Octopuses and AI Teach Us About Consciousness
Recommended by Maureen Tessier for its exploration of octopus intelligence and unique perspectives on the world.
479: Knowledge Graphs
