Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA11336 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 15 May 2000 16:22:19 +0100 Subject: RE: Central questions of memetics Date: Mon, 15 May 2000 11:18:57 -0400 x-sender: wsmith1@camail2.harvard.edu x-mailer: Claris Emailer 2.0v3, Claritas est veritas From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu> To: "memetics list" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Message-ID: <20000515151940.AAA372@camailp.harvard.edu@[128.103.125.215]> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
On 05/15/00 10:53, Richard Brodie said this-
>I'd be happy to bet you if someone other than yourself---Wade, for
>instance---were the judge of what is useful.
!!!!
If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve....
Actually, in the sense of Dennett's algorithms, I see no need, in
evolution, for the term 'useful'. Things are useful when there is a need
for them and they perform a function- they are no longer 'useful' when
those conditions alter or dissipate, although they could exist in full
form at both times. 'Useful' is a temporal condition.
The continued utility of a tool is a measure of it's worth and quality,
and may indeed have cultural properties.
I would like to see memetics become useful as a tool in the box of a
social engineer, in the same way motion studies are tools in design
ergonomics.
- Wade
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