Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA29519 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 2 Feb 2001 16:30:42 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745C2F@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Labels for memes Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 16:29:10 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>>Besides, surely for memetics, there needs to be more than just
> > >similarity, there needs to be replication?
>
<Similarity with causation is replication.>
Having just been reading Robert Aunger's intro. to 'Darwinzing
Culture', I've come across an objection to this point, offered in a chapter
by Dan Sperber. I haven't read the whole of the Sperber chapter yet, just
the bit relevant to this, but I'll quote Aunger's summary of Sperber's point
(as it's more succinct):-
'As Sperber notes, many discussions in memetics do not distinguish
between similarity which arises from reproduction and inheritance.
Causation and similarity are not enough. One must also have the relevant
information being passed down the causal chain for true evolutionary
replication' (Aunger, 2000: 18).
Sperber gives the example of laughter, which has similarity and
causation, but isn't replication because we don't copy other peoples'
laughter (2000: 168).
I think Sperber's piece is essentially an objection to the whole
memetics project, but his critique is focused on the memes in minds idea.
Vincent
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