Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA14877 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 2 Jun 2000 21:37:42 +0100 Message-ID: <3937D449.4110CB30@mediaone.net> Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2000 16:35:37 +0100 From: Chuck <cpalson@mediaone.net> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.72 [en] (WinNT; I) X-Accept-Language: en To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Jabbering ! References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D31017458A1@inchna.stir.ac.uk> <00060220013501.00647@faichney> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Robin Faichney wrote:
> A definition of culture that fits perfectly with memetics, though it
> might not satisfy your "cultural intuitions" (intuitions about culture,
> derived from culture) is very simple: imitation of behaviour. To fill
> that out a little: species that are both social, and sufficiently
> intelligent, can learn cooperatively -- what one individual learns
> directly from experience can be passed on to others so that they get
> the benefit without having to go through the experience.
I would like to know of any individual that consistently takes on cultural
behavior through such imitation. Any culture I have ever been in has a lot of
trouble getting people in that culture to simply imitate behavior as a shortcut
to experience. In fact, we have lots of trouble with our young because they
won't act in such an automated fashion. If only we had robots for kids - things
would be so much easier. The saying "Experience is the best teacher" is
probably universal.
> This "body
> of knowledge" constitutes the culture, and this is obviously more
> efficient than being restricted to individual learning, in which case
> the wheel is reinvented many, many times.
Yes, it is, much to the frustration of adults trying to teach children to do
something "right."
> On the contrary, it has
> the advantage of being quite simple
I strongly agree that it is quite simple.
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