morality and memes

From: Vincent Campbell (v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk)
Date: Mon May 20 2002 - 11:54:54 BST

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    From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
    To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    Subject: morality and memes
    Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 11:54:54 +0100
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    Hi,

    Came across this definition of morality in a book about journalism (Klaidman
    & Beauchamp's 'The Virtuous Journalist') whilst doing something entirely
    un-memetics related the other day. They define morality as a set of
    'culturally transmitted rules of right and wrong conduct that establish the
    basic terms of social life'.

    Despite being an artefact-meme supporter, this piqued my interest. Can
    morals be culturally transmitted, if so, how? If so, are they memes? More
    fundamentally are morals innate, or culturally produced? If the latter,
    how/why do some spread more than others? Are what we perceive of as innate
    values, actually environmentally specific- which I mean in a way distinct
    from culturally specific (e.g. isolated communities favouring polygamy due
    to a gender imbalance).

    I'm not sure what my own views are at this point in time, but it raised
    these questions in my mind.

    Any takers?

    Vincent

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