Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution

From: Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 06 2001 - 23:41:04 GMT

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Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001 18:41:04 -0500
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From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
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    Hi Bill Spight --

    >> And, IMHO, there is no such thing as Lamarckian evolution.
    >>
    >
    >Do you mean that evolution with the inheritance of acquired
    >characteristics is not possible?

    By which I mean that the Lamarckian mechanism doesn't happen in
    evolution. Supplying characteristics that continue through replications
    is a machination, not a process of life.

    And any Lamarckian machinations that we achieve, like the macadam roadway
    or the three-button suit, or, yup, the DNA-altered non-ulceritic middle
    manager, won't occur naturally either.

    There is nothing in evolution that guarantees any artifact of culture,
    whether or not there is something in evolution that guarantees culture
    itself.

    But, I'm really nit-picking about the definition of evolution, because,
    dammit, that's the way I am.

    - Wade

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