Re: Cui bono, Chuck?

From: Chuck (cpalson@mediaone.net)
Date: Sat Jun 03 2000 - 00:33:56 BST

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    From: Chuck <cpalson@mediaone.net>
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    Subject: Re: Cui bono, Chuck?
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    Richard Brodie wrote:

    > << I would also suggest that you *carefully* read Pinker's How the Mind
    > Works before you compulsively and automatically reject any notion that
    > culture
    > is a practical tool for problem solution.>>
    >
    > I don't have any dispute with Pinker, whom I've met and like,

    Are you aware that Pinker completely disagrees with memetics?

    > nor do I tend
    > to do things either compulsively or automatically on this list. I have no
    > idea why you would say that I reject any notion that culture is a practical
    > tool for problem solution. I interpret that to mean that you believe that
    > cultural solutions to problems will develop without conscious planning. No
    > one here would disagree with you. The question is, does every single
    > individual in the society invent the solution on his own, or do a few people
    > invent the solution and then it spreads memetically?

    In a way, yes. Have you ever heard the term "make it your own?" Someone else may
    appear to have created a solution, but until you try it yourself, "make it your
    own", you don't know for sure. Reverse engineering seems like mere imitation to
    laymen until they actually try it. It can sometimes be as difficult as the
    actual invention - requiring as much creativity as the original.

    However, in a society where everyone specializes in a particular area, you have
    to let them do it for you, and **they** have to make sure it works.

    I'm sure I could think of other things involved in this business of "memetic"
    spread, but that's a start.

    For the same reason that Pinker would say it is diametrically opposed. He finds
    not one shred of credibility in memetics.

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