RE: Pursuit of Happiness and Genetic Fitness

From: Richard Brodie (richard@brodietech.com)
Date: Thu 29 May 2003 - 16:34:16 GMT

  • Next message: Jorge Simão: "Re: Pursuit of Happiness and Genetic Fitness"

    A couple of great posts, Reed. Thank you.

    Richard Brodie www.memecentral.com

    -----Original Message----- From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf Of Reed Konsler Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 7:51 AM To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Pursuit of Happiness and Genetic Fitness

    The pursuit of happiness is, in most cases, probably counter productive from a genetic standpoint. The only kinds of pleasure that directly serve genetic interests are those derived from sex, childbirth, and childcare. If you have experience with these, you will agree that each is also fraught with much frustration and suffering. What one focuses on will vary. Pursuit of any other goal, save as a means to the ends above, is a genetic dead end.

    I state this perception only to point out that one shouldn't get too hung up, personally, on the idea of individual genetic fitness (i.e. is education a good or bad thing). It would certainly make an interesting research project, but the ultimate conclusion, I believe, would be that just about everything we enjoy isn't serving a direct genetic interest.

    That is probably an indication of just how dependent we have become on memes. It's unlikely that one could become "disinfected" and, if so, what would be the result? Returning to the Garden isn't something that seems very desirable to me.

    Best,

    Reed

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