Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA14284 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 19 May 2000 13:43:27 +0100 Message-ID: <006501bfc198$2e76f180$03000004@r2z3h3> From: "Tyger" <void@internet-zahav.net.il> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <20000518113212.AAA26584@camailp.harvard.edu@[204.96.32.100]> Subject: Re: Technology vs. culture Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 15:43:13 +0200 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2919.6600 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6600 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I think I may add a bit of oil to the fire here. there exists to my
knowledge at least one technological institution dealing with technology and
finding its
cause of arisal in belief. it is called the Jerusalem Technological
institute, its goal, among others I presume, though I know about it only
from hearsay, is to create technology that fits the demands of the jewish
law. So as an example. couple of years back they invented a telephone for
the prime minister office which will operate in accordance with jewish law.
this telephone, available only to the select few who needed to preserve the
coalition, allowed one to not hear the phone (since this would be considered
"work on saturday") but to "see it ringing" and thus able to fullfill their
job without breaking the orthodox norms of belief.
the point here is quite simple, these are technological innovations based
solely on the needs of belief and nothing more (though one could argue their
basis is political). so what would that (imo extraordinary) example tell us
about the motives for technology?. if a belief is strong enough to push
technology, it might very well be that this is only the tip of the iceberg
concerning the possible view that memes (cultural and religious) push
technological advancement and not vice-versa.
Tyger
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
To: "Memetics Discussion List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2000 1:32 PM
Subject: Technology vs. culture
> Vincent Campbell made this comment not too long ago --
>
> >Also, does
> >technology change in relation to culture (e.g. the design of houses
> >according to Fung Shui)?
>
> As far as I know, there has never been a manufacturing or construction
> technique (aka technology) that has depended or emerged from a belief
> system, i.e. feng shui. So, making feng shui a cause of technology is
> erroneous, (and not just because of my one statement).
>
> The design of buildings is culturally determined, but the design
> constraints of the materials and overcoming them is technology, and so
> far, AFAIK, only science has found those answers.
>
> Putting a mirror on a door is not technology....
>
> - Wade
>
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>
>
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