Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA08580 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 14 May 2002 23:28:10 +0100 From: "Lawrence DeBivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Memetic Influence on Evolution Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 18:23:39 -0400 Message-ID: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAIENACPAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2919.6700 In-reply-to: <B9074236.324%sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Greetings, all,
If it is unclear today to what extent memes influence biological evolution,
the answer will become increasingly clear in the coming years and decades,
not longer. One of the salient characteristics of our age is evolutionary
development -- our growing ability to manage our own evolution, and we do so
in all instances through our initial exchange of memes, and the emergence of
some over others.
Steve, can you explain a bit more what you mean by 'coarser'? Thanks.
Lawrence
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf
> Of Steve Drew
> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 5:38 PM
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: RE: Memetic Influence on Evolution
>
>
> Hi Lawrence and Grant.
>
> I've read Fukuyama's article in the New Scientist (20/4/02) and
> sent a post
> which never made it, as well as a later article in the Guardian (UK), and
> frankly, though I agree that we need to keep an eye on the way
> biotech goes,
> his article in New Scientist was pretty shallow concerning using
> drugs such
> as Ritalin and Prozac as methods of social control. This to me is a side
> effect of health and social policy, that good old well worn path that is
> paved with good intentions. Anti-biotic resistance is increasing (for
> example) because doctors want to use the best thing available for their
> patients now. Not risk using something less powerful, and and
> wind up with a
> problem later by using one of the old ones.
>
> I'm starting to rant a bit here...
>
> And this revolution in Biotech! No I'm not going down that road either...
>
> Memetics does influence evolution, but for now it is at a coarser
> level than
> most biotech would wish.
>
> Regards
>
> Steve
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