Title
Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness,Used
Sold by Ergodebooks, an authorized reseller.
Returns accepted within 30 days | support@ergodebooks.com
Shipping Information
- Free Standard Shipping — United States only
- Processing Time: 1–3 business days
- Estimated Delivery: 3–5 business days after dispatch
- Double-boxed, fully insured & discreetly packaged
- Tracking number sent via email once dispatched
- Orders over $250 require signature upon delivery. Taxes calculated at checkout.
Returns & Refund
Returns accepted within 30 days of delivery.
Damaged or Defective Item
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Wrong Item Received
Free return shipping + replacement or full refund
Change of Mind
Return shipping at customer's expense · 25% restocking fee applies
Payment Option
Philosopher Peter GodfreySmith dons a wet suit and journeys into the depths of consciousness in Other MindsAlthough mammals and birds are widely regarded as the smartest creatures on earth, it has lately become clear that a very distant branch of the tree of life has also sprouted higher intelligence: the cephalopods, consisting of the squid, the cuttlefish, and above all the octopus. In captivity, octopuses have been known to identify individual human keepers, raid neighboring tanks for food, turn off lightbulbs by spouting jets of water, plug drains, and make daring escapes. How is it that a creature with such gifts evolved through an evolutionary lineage so radically distant from our own? What does it mean that evolution built minds not once but at least twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?In Other Minds, Peter GodfreySmith, a distinguished philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver, tells a bold new story of how subjective experience crept into beinghow nature became aware of itself. As GodfreySmith stresses, it is a story that largely occurs in the ocean, where animals first appeared. Tracking the minds fitful development, GodfreySmith shows how unruly clumps of seaborne cells began living together and became capable of sensing, acting, and signaling. As these primitive organisms became more entangled with others, they grew more complicated. The first nervous systems evolved, probably in ancient relatives of jellyfish; later on, the cephalopods, which began as inconspicuous mollusks, abandoned their shells and rose above the ocean floor, searching for prey and acquiring the greater intelligence needed to do so. Taking an independent route, mammals and birds later began their own evolutionary journeys.But what kind of intelligence do cephalopods possess? Drawing on the latest scientific research and his own scubadiving adventures, GodfreySmith probes the many mysteries that surround the lineage. How did the octopus, a solitary creature with little social life, become so smart? What is it like to have eight tentacles that are so packed with neurons that they virtually think for themselves? What happens when some octopuses abandon their hermitlike ways and congregate, as they do in a unique location off the coast of Australia?By tracing the question of inner life back to its roots and comparing human beings with our most remarkable animal relatives, GodfreySmith casts crucial new light on the octopus mindand on our own.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'Other Minds'? A: 'Other Minds' explores the evolution of consciousness, particularly focusing on cephalopods like octopuses and how they developed intelligence independently from mammals and birds.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Other Minds'? A: The book is authored by Peter Godfrey-Smith, a philosopher of science and a skilled scuba diver.
- Q: What type of binding does the book have? A: 'Other Minds' is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: How many pages does 'Other Minds' contain? A: The book consists of 272 pages.
- Q: When was 'Other Minds' published? A: 'Other Minds' was published on December 6, 2016.
- Q: What condition is the book in? A: The item condition is listed as acceptable.
- Q: What category does 'Other Minds' fall under? A: 'Other Minds' is categorized under Evolutionary Psychology.
- Q: Is 'Other Minds' a first edition? A: Yes, this is the first edition of 'Other Minds'.
- Q: What unique insights does the author provide in the book? A: Peter Godfrey-Smith provides insights into how subjective experience evolved in the ocean and compares human intelligence with that of octopuses.
- Q: What makes octopuses a key focus in the book? A: Octopuses are highlighted as they exhibit remarkable intelligence and unique behaviors that raise questions about the nature of consciousness and evolution.