Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id HAA19208 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 1 May 2002 07:10:25 +0100 Message-ID: <20020501060507.76240.qmail@web10106.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 23:05:07 -0700 (PDT) From: Trupeljak Ozren <ozren_trupeljak@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Saving the ethnosphere To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk In-Reply-To: <009201c1f0cd$24e47b40$5e2ffea9@oemcomputer> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
--- Philip Jonkers <philipjonkers@prodigy.net> wrote:
> Ozren:
> > IMO, this is a major memetic extinction, right there. I really want
> to
> > see how you can explain calling widespread destruction of cultures
> and
> > associated memetic contents, as "evolution".
>
> Allow me. Evolution knows three elements: variation, retention and
> selection.
> The latter implies a redundancy of that what has to be selected. That
> is,
> there are too many entities running for selection. This is where
> extinction
> kicks
> in, a fate beset on those entities who don't make it to be selected.
>
> Phil.
>
Your argument is invalid.
It doesn't work if a catastrophic event destroys most of the genetic
material needed for variation in the first place. What we are talking
about is not a selective pressure on some culutures/languages - it is a
universal destruction of a huge number of cultures/languages done for
the short term economic profit of a few. Yes, after long enough time,
we are bound to have a bunch of new languages/cultures. Since cultures
seem to evolve a order of magnitude (at least) faster than biological
systems, we are bound to get to the current diversity level in a few,
what, tens of thousands of years?
Of course, this is asuming that historical trends in the rate of
culture change do not break in near future.
I think that what is happening today is a huge loss. Since I come from
one of those "small insignificant and obsolete" language/culture
groups, you could say that I am subjectively biased.
=====
There are very few men - and they are exceptions - who are able to think and feel beyond the present moment.
Carl von Clausewitz
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