"But how does a strange hive mind like this even function? And, if we're not part of that hive mind, how can a subjective, non-joined single human mind fully communicate with such a vast, different type of awareness? In the penultimate episode of Pluribus, "Charm Offensive," the series seems to allude to the origin of the shared minds of the Others, and in doing so, intentionally or not, references one of the best sci-fi stories of all time: ."
"Mild spoilers for Pluribus Episode 8 ahead. While looking through a telescope at the star Kepler-22, Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and Zosia (Karolina Wydra) chat about the origin of the message that led to the massive hive mind joining on Earth. The planet is Kepler-22b, which is a real exoplanet that was discovered in 2011, with a radius twice that of Earth, a detail which Zosia also echoes. She also says that the planet "may be one enormous ocean.""
"Carol and Zosia's relationship in Pluribus feels similar to the main emotional arc of Solaris. Apple TV This final detail also dovetails with current astronomical theory about Kepler-22b, but it also does something else. For certain science fiction fans, the idea of a massive ocean planet that also houses a shared intelligence is basically the premise of Solaris. That famous 1961 novel from Stanislaw Lem was"
Massive, shared alien consciousnesses that lack a concept of individual minds would face profound communication barriers with solitary human minds. Telepathic contact from such entities could render human privacy meaningless and force ethical dilemmas about honesty and consent. Science fiction examples portray secrecy and mental privacy as central narrative elements when aliens can read minds, showing both logistical and moral friction. The depiction of a hive mind originating from an oceanic exoplanet like Kepler-22b echoes Solaris’ premise of a sentient ocean planet. That scenario raises questions about how subjective human experience could be translated into a collective, non-individualistic awareness.
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