From: Grant Callaghan (grantc4@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon 04 Nov 2002 - 15:48:16 GMT
> > > >
> > >These cues are innate and generally the same or extremely similar for
> > >conspecifics within a species, whereas human communication is
> > >arbitrary and by mutual convention, and unlike genetically hardwired
> > >behavior, must be created, learned and taught.
> > > >
> >
> > I never said they had culture. Merely that they communicate and that
> > what they communicate influences the behavior of the other members of
> > the species. If your definition of a meme requires human behavior,
> > then of course other species won't be able to meet the test. But will
> > your definition meet the test of acceptance by the majority of your
> > peers?
> >
>My definition of memes requires the ability to consciously choose to or
>not to either receive or transmit at least some of them, on the basis of
>their meaning.
> >
> > Grant
> >
Does the ram who refuses to compete with a larger opponent or the female who
refuses those who don't compete meet that requirement? The larger ram
issues a challenge and the smaller ram thinks, "No way." and turns away.
The ewe is in turn turned on by the larger ram's performance but refuses the
advances of the smaller ram.
There you have communication of a challenge, the choice of whether or not to
accept, refusal, and the smaller ram's life changed by the decision. You
also have the communication of superiority by the larger ram to both males
and females by his performance and the female making a decision based on
that performance. Her performance in turn confirms the larger ram's
assertion of superiority and the females confirmation of it. If she chose
not to mate with him, her action would deny it.
Again, information was passed through action to other members of the
species. Decisions were made on the basis of that action. Lives were
changed because of it. In addition, the lives of the whole herd will be
affected because the winning ram assumes a leadership role and the rest of
the herd follows his lead about where to search for food and where to run
when danger threatens. The loser becomes just another follower until he
gets bigger and stronger. There is also a pecking order that is understood
by the members of the herd based on those actions of challenger and
decliner. On the female side, the ones who accepted sex from the top ram
get protection from other members of the herd and a consequently higher
place in the pecking order.
It's not so different from human females who accept sexual favors from the
boss at work and consequently better their position in the hierarchy of the
company. Or at least hope they will. Though language makes our memes more
complex, the purposes they serve still reflect where wecame from. Pecking
order is common to just about all herding or flocking animals and the
information of where a member stands in that order is communicated and
understood by the other members. Once communicated, that information is
acted upon and occasionally challenged by the other members. The
information is learned by experience and passed on by performance.
Grant
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