From: Wade T. Smith (wade.t.smith@verizon.net)
Date: Wed 05 Mar 2003 - 19:10:12 GMT
On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at 01:18 PM, memetics-digest wrote:
> This argument is kinda like saying that unless exact genetic
> replication
> occurs, that the theory of evolution is flawed.
Kinda like, perhaps. Mostly like, no way.
> But it is precisely the
> natural selection between natural occurring deviances that allows for
> evolution to occur.
No argument, but, hmmm, we can't duplicate the conditions that this
natural selection occured within, can we? Nope, that time/space is gone.
> The difference is that, in memetics, those deviations
> (mutations) may be intended, and indeed engineered - as can be the
> selection.
There is no _necessity_ that any of the 'mutations' in memetic transfer
(cultural transmission) be intended or engineered, and no one is
arguing that intention may _not_ be a part of cultural mechanisms. But,
yes, I am arguing that intention need not be communicated, at all, and
can be lost for all time.
- Wade
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