From: Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Thu 31 Oct 2002 - 05:21:35 GMT
On Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 06:28 , Richard Brodie wrote:
> I don't see how [the behavior-only stance] either explains or predicts
> anything.
And I don't see how it can fail not to. Once a pattern of behavioral
similarity is established, predictions about the nature of the next
behavior can be made. It would all seem pretty matter-of-fact to me.
Trying to find motivational similarities (like profiling serial killers)
would seem pointless, if not overtly errant, as they have proved to be.
But, like in all weather-prediction models, the actual behaviors are
somewhat, if limitedly, predictable if enough data is observed.
We don't need to know whether the wind wants to blow this way or that,
but, we can, with some degree of success, discuss the probability that
it might blow in a certain direction, at a certain time. Pointing to
motivations or ideas behind behaviors is not an analysis of the actual
behavior.
I don't see how the meme-in-the-mind model either explains or predicts
anything.
Ah, well.
- Wade
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