Why people recommend it
Metazoa is a popular science book by philosopher and diver Peter Godfrey-Smith that explores the evolutionary origins of animal consciousness, focusing heavily on cephalopods like octopuses. On an episode of The Ezra Klein Show titled Best Of: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’', published on May 9, 2023, guest Alison Gopnik referenced the book while discussing animal intelligence and cognitive development. Gopnik mentioned that she had just been reading the wonderful book and highlighted its examination of the octopus. She pointed out that the octopus presents a fascinating evolutionary puzzle because these creatures achieve remarkable intelligence despite not having a long childhood or extended developmental period. By drawing on Godfrey-Smith's observations, Gopnik connected animal cognition to broader themes of learning, consciousness, and the different ways minds can evolve across species. The reference allowed her to contrast human childhood learning with alternative pathways to intelligence in the animal kingdom. Her discussion provided listeners with an engaging biological perspective on how complex minds can emerge outside the traditional developmental frameworks typically observed in mammals and birds, enriching the podcast's exploration of cognition.
Who recommended it
- Alison Gopnik Recommended
Alison Gopnik — 1 mention
“and Peter Godfrey Smith's wonderful book I've just been reading metazoa talks about the octopus and the octopus is very puzzling because the octaves don't have a long childhood and yet they seem to be really smart”