Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id HAA02919 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 25 Jul 2000 07:21:54 +0100 Message-ID: <20000725061933.21135.qmail@awcst094.netaddress.usa.net> Date: 25 Jul 00 02:19:33 EDT From: "E.M.Recio" <n2wog@usa.net> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Memetics a pseudoscience? X-Mailer: USANET web-mailer (34FM1.5A.01A) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hello all!
I just have a quick thing to remark on as far as the progress of memetics is
concerned. After reading Michael Ruse's paper ``Creation-Science Is Not
Science'' he brought up a few points (derived from Thomas Kuhn presumably)
defining Science (with a captial `s')
What strikes me most odd is whether or not memetics would fall into
pseudoscience range. However, even the demarcation of what /is/ science is
arguable.
The five points brought up by Ruse as to the ``characteristic features'' of
what we call science today are: explanatory, predictions, testability,
confirmations, falsifications, and most importantly (IMO) tentativeness. If
you are familiar with these characteristics of science (a la Ruse,) then you
can skip to the bottom.
A viable explanation is created when natural laws are established. Religious
beliefs often allow for events to happen that defy natural laws. For example,
some may call these events miracles; or other events like Catholicism's
transubstantiation. Without the obedience of natural law, religion cannot
beconsidered a science per se.
Predictions may then be established based on the viable explanations
presented. With natural laws nicely established, and an explanation as to what
exactly happened, then one may go on a limb and predict what will happen with
certainty. In addition to what will happen, you can then predict what has
happened (in the past.)
The previously made predictions could now be tested which is the most
important front in science. This is the ability for the scientific community
to verify the predictions and explanations for themselves. This allows for
scientists to ``see for themselves'' the results of an experiment or theory.
The scientist then looks for confirmation of his theory. In other words, he
looks for positive evidence to support his theory. The evidence must be purely
empirical and not circumstancial. A theory must be falsifiable. In addition to
being confirmable, a theory must lay itself out the be able to
be proven wrong. When a hole is found in the theory, ad hoc explanations that
aren't consistent with the general theory,exposes it as weak, or even a
non-science. This is the major difference between theory of relativity and
Freud's pseudo-scientific psychology. There isn't enough empirical
evidence in the universe to prove Freud's theories wrong; each piece of
empirical evidence brought against Freud could be countered by an ad hoc
``patch''. Yet there is much empirical data to be brought against the theory
of relativity (i am not arguing the validity of the theory of relativity, its
outcome is irrelevant to my point here). In other words, it must be open to
possible refutation.
Science must also be tentative, it must be open to change and ``advances.'' A
scientist must also be open to alter his theory, or ultimately reject it if it
proves invalid. This implies a certain professionalism that ought be
maintained. If an experiment cannot be reproduced, or is reproduced
incorrectly a scientist must be professional enough to step up and say that
this findings were wrong. On the flip-side it took the Catholic Church a long
time to admit to the revolution of the heavens!
The question is in what way (using these five aspects) are we pushing towards
making memetics a science. Where have there beenmilestones, or set backs
(read: redefinition of the meme by Dawkins.)
Best Regards,
Elmo Recio
-- Sociology and Philosophy student at Drexel Univ. Philadelphia, PA 19103; USA Email: polywog@drexel.edu Homepage: http://polywog.navpoint.com____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1
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