Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id PAA05603 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 12 Mar 2002 15:22:15 GMT Subject: RE: Rumsfeld Says He May Drop New Office of Influence From: Ned Wolpert <wolpert5@cox.net> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.0.20020311104619.02cbf260@pop.cogeco.ca> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20020311104619.02cbf260@pop.cogeco.ca> Content-Type: multipart/signed; micalg=pgp-sha1; protocol="application/pgp-signature"; boundary="=-aiGZVbASM0EWLWj2+vyZ" X-Mailer: Evolution/1.0.2 Date: 12 Mar 2002 08:18:35 -0700 Message-Id: <1015946316.286.11.camel@wolpert.coxphx.az.home.com> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
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On Mon, 2002-03-11 at 09:24, Keith Henson wrote:
> At 08:21 AM 10/03/02 -0700, Ned Wolpert <wolpert5@cox.net> wrote:
>
> >I too have the same problem. On one hand, I accept that evolution
> >exists, and accept the base principles of genetics. I can also agree
> >that the 'meme' does exist and that thoughts/ideas are viral and merely
> >desire replication. I have a problem when us humans (the vehicle of
> >both genes and memes) decide we can manipulate either.
>
> Hmm. Any time you look at domestic dogs you see evidence we can and have
> manipulated genes for thousands of years.
Its not that we _can't_ manipulate them, I have trouble with us actually
doing that. (see below)
>
> >As we look at
> >eugenics (active or passive) the ease for a 'culture' to develop
> >destructive traits, like the Nazis, seems too easy. And what about
> >eugenics of the mind? (meugenics?) Does one try to kill religious
> >thought like the Marxists of USSR?
>
> Been done. There are other ways, but killing all the carriers of a meme
> does the trick. You might note that while we have plenty of other problem
> memes around, the Thuggee meme is not among them.
This is my point from above. I have trouble with eugenics as a method
of 'controlling bad memes and genes'. Too much power to cause too much
damage. (Especially in the fact that us humans (memeplexes) would be
deciding what other memes/genes survive.) Thanks, but no. There must
be a better way.
> >I think the problem is that people believe that evolution is geared to
> >go toward a 'perfection', or if it doesn't then they try to push it
> >toward a 'perfection'.
>
> If you actually study evolution, you can make a better case that it
> evolution is geared to producing dead end parasites. At least there are
> more such examples.
So then, all humans are not much better than a virus... including the
ones making the eugenics decisions? That I can buy.
(What says that evolution is 'geared' to do anything but help
replication? That being true, we have always been viri....)
>
--Virtually, Ned Wolpert <wolpert5@cox.net> 4e75
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