Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id PAA14988 (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 15:18:34 +0100 Message-ID: <3925078E.FC67C7EB@mediaone.net> Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 10:21:18 +0100 From: Chuck Palson <cpalson@mediaone.net> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.72 [en] (WinNT; I) X-Accept-Language: en To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Technology vs. culture References: <20000518113212.AAA26584@camailp.harvard.edu@[204.96.32.100]> <006501bfc198$2e76f180$03000004@r2z3h3> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Tyger wrote:
>
> 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 - what a wonderful, quirky example! Bless the Orthodox for thinking this
one up.
Now, here's the point: what you describe in that case is ALWAYS the point in
technology. It doesn't just sprout up in perfected technological form. It has to
fit in with current beliefs so it doesn't displace too much at once. That would
threaten too many positions and the very stability of social relationships
(which is necessary for fundamental working of social relationships.) But it is
a marvelous example - a kind of apparent exception that proves the rule.
>
> 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
> >
> > ===============================================================
> > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
> >
> >
> >
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri May 19 2000 - 15:19:00 BST