Re: memetics-digest V1 #1319

From: Scott Chase (ecphoric@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed 26 Mar 2003 - 22:35:32 GMT

  • Next message: Keith Henson: "Re: memetics-digest V1 #1319"

    >From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net>
    >Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    >To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    >Subject: Re: memetics-digest V1 #1319
    >Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 11:37:50 -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.
    >
    >At the very least, viruses participate in life processes. The same could
    >be
    >said of memes. After all, the mind/brain is as alive as any other organ.
    >A
    >meme, i.e. a "selfish" idea, lives and evolves in relation to the cultural
    >environment in the same sense that an animal lives and evolves in relation
    >to the natural environment.
    >
    >
    But I thought a meme was akin to a gene, not an animal.

    An animal is alive. Is a gene alive?

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