Interesting article about the importance of 2001: A Space Odyssey

[Argus Skyhawk]

Eric D. Snider writes a weekly column for Film.com called "What's the Big Deal?" in which he examines and explains what the "deal" is with various classic movies that are highly respected by critics but not always easily understood by average movie-watchers. I enjoyed this week's column about 2001: A Space Odyssey.

 

[Agenda]

A black monolith resembling a large, blank iPhone suddenly appears in prehistoric Africa, causing (?) the local monkey-men to learn (?) how to use tools, which leads (?) to the knowledge of how to kill each other.

I've always wondered, isn't it possible that the monolith was there to watch the "monkey-men" learn how to use tools rather than cause them to learn?

 

[Hermiod]

^IIRC, it is only after one of the apes picks up the courage to touch it that they start to learn how to use tools. Cause and effect is certainly implied at least.