Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id GAA08555 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 20 Sep 2000 06:45:56 +0100 From: <LJayson@aol.com> Message-ID: <4c.a922f34.26f9a848@aol.com> Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 01:42:32 EDT Subject: Re: Part One --- Outline -- A-C revision two To: Kenneth.Van.Oost@village.uunet.be CC: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 117 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Part One --- Outline -- A-C revision two
A. Memes represent units of information passed on, in some form of
communication, between two or more organisms/ brains. For example,
when we imitate another person, something is communicated by him
to us. Or, when we read a book, the author is communicating his
thoughts to us through use of the printed page.
B. This 'something,' we call a meme, is a unit of information
which can then be transmitted to other people. Those
people may then transmit those memes to additional others.
Thus, 'successful' memes may take on a life of their own,
through replication and propagation.
B-1. Emotions are experiential units of information---human
feelings---that I will call "reactives." Our reactives may then
be imitated by other people, who may then pass them on to still
others. For example, the frequent and pervasive excitement
generated by a sporting event, or the "contagious" sadness
that people experience during a funeral.
C. A characteristic of each human brain is its unique selfplex. The
selfplex is a a gestalt of memes and emotions, different for each
human, that permeate and modify the fidelity of certain of the memes
received from the environment throughout his lifetime. The origin of the
selfplex is the individual's own 'hardwired' inherited genome---50%
received from each parent.
Ken wrote:
<< In addition here, also partly (some) parental memetical aspects. <<
Len's response:
Please note that I am attempting to convey---the
genetic **origin** of the selfplex.
After birth, the child spends the next eighteen years receiving his
parents' memes. I'm not sure what you are exactly referring to when
you say "partly (some) parental memetical aspects." Why stop
at the parents? Why not include memes from siblings, teachers, etc.?
If you get into experiences that happen after birth, where does it end?
You would end up having to say that a person's selfplex is an ongoing
"construction project" throughout a lifetime that is shaped by a combination
of genetics and life's significant events. What do you think?
Best regards,
Len
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