My interpretation of 2001: a space odyssey

[mr3000]

The first monolith grants the apes the ability to think, and the monolith orbiting Jupiter seeks to show the humans the next level “above” that; something that would be needed to understand the context of the universe.

What do you think?

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, the first monolith introduces tool-making and intelligence.

The second moon monolith can only be found once a species can travel in space. It sends a signal to Jupiter for the next step.

Humanity follows the signal to the Jupiter monolith, where they are transformed again into the star child.

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What would be neat is a story along the lines of the Chinese stone-cutter story, where he wishes for more than what he is. stone-cutter -> rich man -> powerful official -> the Sun -> a cloud -> the mountain -> a stone cutter.

So Bowman, after becoming a star-child, becomes an ape learning about tools from a monolith.