Re: memetics-digest V1 #1303

From: joedees@bellsouth.net
Date: Thu 06 Mar 2003 - 17:28:32 GMT

  • Next message: Wade T. Smith: "Re: memetics-digest V1 #1304"

    > >> No argument, but, hmmm, we can't duplicate the conditions that this
    > >> natural selection occured within, can we? Nope, that time/space is
    > >> gone.
    > >>
    > > Which is exactly why a different environmental condition might
    > > select for a different mutation among the subsequent alternatives -
    > > in other words, evolution continues.
    >
    > You know I agree- this is performance time/space, and a different
    > environment, and that is where cultural evolution happens. One
    > individual player is only part of this time/space. And in order for
    > cultural evolution to continue, we need all the players.
    >
    However, a single identifiable behavior might exist over many physically executed repetitions, motivated by multiple iterations of a single cognitively stored and meme or memeset, until the environment changes enough to compell a change.
    >
    > >> But, yes, I am arguing that intention need not be communicated, at
    > >> all, and can be lost for all time.
    > >>
    > > But the communication of intention is not prohibited, and indeed, is
    > > quite memetically ubiquitous.
    >
    > Here's where I disagree, kinda. Yes, the deduction of intention is not
    > prohibited, is, as you say, ubiquitous, and might even be a full
    > disclosure with no ambiguities, but there is no guarantee or necessity
    > that this occur, as an entirely different meaning might be ascribed to
    > an action than the originator of the action intended, and this
    > 'mistake' might be what is culturally replicated. Spoonerisms, for
    > instance.
    >
    The exception probes the scope of the rule by its very status as an exception. Nevertheless, the very fact that there is a special name for spoonerisms indicates that they are not the baseline.
    >
    > Where the mistake is made, that interaction between performer and
    > audience, is where memetics happens and where the meme exists. In my
    > model. The rest is only usual, genetic, developmental, behavior.
    >
    Dawkins' intentional application of evolutionary theory to ideas was no mistake, nor did it initially occur outside his head.
    >
    > - Wade
    >
    >
    > ===============================================================
    > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
    > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
    > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
    > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
    >

    =============================================================== This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing) see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit



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