Re: Technology vs. culture

From: Chuck Palson (cpalson@mediaone.net)
Date: Fri May 19 2000 - 11:51:32 BST

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    Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 11:51:32 +0100
    From: Chuck Palson <cpalson@mediaone.net>
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    Subject: Re: Technology vs. culture
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    Tyger wrote:

    > so a memetic culture will always tend to pacify its own technological
    > innovations and settle toward tautology? always gravitate to its elemental
    > self-referential state?

    I wish I understood what you were saying. Pacify? Wouldn't 'integrate' be a
    better word? "Settle toward tautology"? I have never seen a culture do this -
    it sounds like quite a trick - whatever it is.

    >
    > a bit far fetched , no?
    > Gregory Bateson used to say that every self is an argument trying to prove
    > its identity.

    Bless is soul. Ever since he tried to have a good marriage with Maggy Mead, he
    hasn't been the same. :) This is typical anthropological tautology.

    > Paraphrasing on that. A belief is a meme, for ever trying to
    > prove its stability, longevity. spreading by inducing a tautological
    > settlement. what do you think?

    Whatever it means, it sounds impressive, or at least poetic. I think you have
    entered the realm of reifying memes which could too easily lead to the slippery
    slope of idol worship. Maybe Wade has a better idea.

    >
    >
    > Tyger
    >
    > ----- Original Message -----
    > From: "Chuck Palson" <cpalson@mediaone.net>
    > To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    > Sent: Friday, May 19, 2000 11:25 AM
    > Subject: Re: Technology vs. culture
    >
    > >
    > >
    > > "Wade T.Smith" wrote:
    > >
    > > > On 05/19/00 09:43, Tyger said this-
    > > >
    > > > >they invented a telephone for
    > > > >the prime minister office which will operate in accordance with jewish
    > law.
    > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > Ah, but this is simply an application of a technology within cultural
    > > > parameters set by a belief system- the belief system itself did nothing
    > > > in the way of bringing this technology into existence.
    > >
    > > I disagree. Beliefs motivated ("moved") the change. Beliefs are always the
    > > movers of change. Wade - I would love to hear what you say about my
    > > widget/wizzer thing.
    > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > - 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 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



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