Re: memetics-digest V1 #1319

From: Scott Chase (ecphoric@hotmail.com)
Date: Mon 24 Mar 2003 - 06:26:14 GMT

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    >From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net>
    >Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    >To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    >Subject: Re: memetics-digest V1 #1319
    >Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 11:51:21 -0800
    >
    >
    > > From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com>
    > >
    > > >From: "Wade T. Smith" <wade.t.smith@verizon.net>
    > > >
    > > >On Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at 04:15 PM, Ted wrote:
    > > >
    > > >>Self-replicators. Remember, memes are alive.
    > > >
    > > >Jeez.... That goes beyond all absurdity.
    > > >
    > > >Nothing, in this universe or any other, is self-replicating.
    > > >
    > > >
    > > I thought that attributing life to memes was the most absurd part of
    >what
    > > you replied to. Memes alive? Have we resurrected animism?
    >
    >If I attributed life to animals would you accuse me of animism?
    >
    >
    >
    No. Butam I wrong in thinking you are attributing life to memes in the literal sense (not the marginally less absurd metaphoric sense)? I'd say that a palm tree or a porpoise are alive. An idea is not alive. A virus strains ones views on what life is, and I'd probably lean towards no hee too. A viral idea ("meme") if this exists, doesn't seem to be a good candidate for being alive.

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