Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA13810 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 18 Feb 2000 17:17:42 GMT Message-ID: <B6E47FBD3879D31192AD009027AC929C3687FC@NWTH-EXCHANGE> From: Bruce Jones <BruceJ@nwths.com> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: meaning in memetics, Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 11:19:40 -0600 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2232.9) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Alex Wrote ______ 2/18/00
> To reiterate, the configuration in its pure sense, doesn't mean anything
> at all, and in light of that, there's
> very little point in trying to construct a theory of human behaviour and
> society around it. When the
> configuration is CODE FOR something, when it has meaning (just like the
> stars in the sky when the
> soldier TOLD another soldier that they MEANT something), it becomes
> interesting, it becomes something
> that we might want to talk about when explaining human behaviour.
>
Alex I agree with your statement as it stands ... It is just a piece
of code until meaning is added within the bounds of the society, culture, or
what ever in which it exists. There is also the problem of similar but
different ... the Nazi Swastika and the similar but different America Indian
symbol.
However, if a piece of code is JUST a piece of code until meaning is
applied and accepted and a construct on human behavior can not be formed
with just one ....... How many does it take? What is the level at which a
piece of code becomes a self entity and begins to -- if not describe a
culture ---- be so associated with it that the separation of the two is
impossible.
Two modern examples .... The Swastika of the third Reich and the
Battle flag of the American Confederacy. As pieces of code they are
meaningless and by them selves, even with meaning, they are harmless.
However, a meaning has been assigned to the code that is FAR stronger than
the symbol or the code and really and truly does define a theory of human
behavior.
Bruce Jones
Organizational Development Specialist
Northwest Texas Healthcare System
Amarillo, Texas
brucej@nwths.com
brucewj@amaonline.com
Stirring the mud looking for water!!
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