Re: What are memes made of?

From: Robin Faichney (robin@faichney.demon.co.uk)
Date: Thu Mar 02 2000 - 15:54:29 GMT

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    From: Robin Faichney <robin@faichney.demon.co.uk>
    Organization: Reborn Technology
    To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    Subject: Re: What are memes made of?
    Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 15:54:29 +0000
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    On Wed, 01 Mar 2000, Joe E. Dees wrote:
    >From: Robin Faichney <robin@faichney.demon.co.uk>
    >Organization: Reborn Technology
    >To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    >Subject: Re: What are memes made of?
    >Date sent: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 17:35:09 +0000
    >Send reply to: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    >
    >> On Mon, 28 Feb 2000, Joe E. Dees wrote:
    >> >>
    >> >Without communication, there can be no memetics, for it is by
    >> >means of communication that memes replicate. What is
    >> >necessary for communication is necessary for memetics.
    >> >Memetic multiplication is effected by means of dissemination,
    >> >which is communication to multiple receivers.
    >>
    >> My point is this: given all the existing concepts, such as meaning, and the
    >> whole semiotic toolbag, what purpose does the meme concept serve? What place is
    >> there for a "selfish" replicator in a world of consciously communicating
    >> individual minds? I thought memetics was an alternative scenario. Otherwise,
    >> why bother with memes at all?
    >>
    >Memes originally blindly evolved to be "selfish" in an intentional and
    >signifying cognitive environment, although pretty quickly doctrines
    >and dogmas permeable to the common mind were being
    >consciously created and proselytized, by priests and politicians
    >and advertizers. Memetics give us the evolutionary and
    >dynamically flowing view of the signification and intention based
    >message creation, dissemination, mutation and reception which is
    >starkly absent in the static structural snapshot which comprises
    >semiotics. This is about the third time I have answered this
    >question, always with the same answer.

    Is it my fault if you respond to the same paragraph twice? :-)

    --
    Robin Faichney
    

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