Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id TAA09524 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 5 Feb 2001 19:41:56 GMT From: "Lawrence DeBivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 13:55:36 -0500 Message-ID: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAAEJNCAAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) In-Reply-To: <3A7EEF3A.4CC798F7@pacbell.net> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 Importance: Normal Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
This is an interesting discussion. Many thanks to all.
It seems to me that some of the important differences between genetic and
memetic evolution include:
1. That memetic evolution within a person is iterative -- memes come and go,
and can be refined over a period of time within an individual; genetic
evolution involves a one-shot interaction. memetic evolution can be 'undone'
or readily modified over time.
2. Memetic evolution does not depend for its pacing on human procreation --
brains can always take in new materials and so a memetic 'generation'--a
change in thinking or beliefs--might take place in a matter of seconds. Thus
we should not be surprised to see memetic evolution become the most
important cause of change in the human experience.
3. Memetic evolution is more complex that genetic in the sense that a person
may be confronted by many conflicting memes at any moment, and so produce a
result that is less predictable, less simple than in genetic evolution. (I'm
not too happy with the way I have phrased this -- I hope it makes sense.)
4. Memtic evolution is 'inexpensive': language is inexpensive to produce,
portable, concealable, can be carried out with little preparation or advance
notice of opportunity, etc.
5. Memetic evolution offers fine-tuning choices to those launching memes,
and considerable controls over their adoption by those receiving a meme.
Genetic evolution offers only one choice, pregnancy or not. (I'm not too
happy with the way I explain this one, either...)
- Lawrence
-----Original Message-----
From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf
Of Bill Spight
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 1:22 PM
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution
Dear Joe,
> memetic evolution being
> any more robust than genetic evolution (and it must be, to
> supercede it)
Clarification, please. :-) What do you mean by "robust"? And how do you
think memetic evolution supercedes genetic evolution?
Many thanks,
Bill
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This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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