Memetics discussion list archive (associated with Jom-EMIT): Re[2]: new review of memetics/sociobiology/EP

Sorry for the delay in responding. I didn't actually have the "hidden hand" phrase in mind there, but rather the practice of explaining all opposition to a given theory in that theory's terms, eg "You disagree with memetics because you have a mind virus". That's a closed system of belief. It is, I think, at least theoretically possible to hold a theory that says people do things for reasons that are different from what they think, without trying to explain all opposition to that theory thusly. But of course it might well be the case in practice that anyone who really believes in such a theory, finds the temptation to use it to explain away opposition just too strong to resist, at least in certain circumstances. By the way, it's nice to see that you're still around too.

Thanks Robin

Nice to see you are still with the list. You are right about "hidden hand". I can't remember exactly where I got it from (David Hull?), but a quick check on google seems to indicate that it is from Adam Smith, and therefore probably means something slightly different to what I intended.

Cheers

Derek

At 17:03 02/02/2006, you wrote:

Very nice paper, Derek, thanks a lot. One very minor point: in note 10 you say:

It is interesting that all four of these theories can use (and have used) the following argument against their opponents: ‘You disagree with the sublime truth of psychoanalysis/Marxism/sociobiology/memetics because you are repressed/are a bourgeois/are genetically programmed to avoid the unpalatable/have a mind virus.’

It might be worth mentioning that the generally accepted term (among philosophers, at least) for such theories is "closed belief systems".

Best regards,

Robin mailto:robin@mmmi.org

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