Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA03045 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 9 Feb 2001 23:47:37 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.143] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2001 18:45:03 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F170qObqg2NL5JAR6Zy000013ac@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 09 Feb 2001 23:45:03.0481 (UTC) FILETIME=[52C5CE90:01C092F2] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: Robin Faichney <robin@reborntechnology.co.uk>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution
>Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 09:18:19 +0000
>
>On Thu, Feb 08, 2001 at 03:17:08PM -0800, Bill Spight wrote:
> > Dear Wade,
> >
> > > The mechanism itself, the lamarckian mechanism, has been shown, I
>would
> > > think with certitude, not to exist in nature at all. It is a skyhook,
>to
> > > borrow Dennett's term. It is an invented quality rising from the
> > > perceptual traps we fall into when we see patterns.
> > >
> >
> > That is because, with genes, the germ line is insulated from the
> > environment. It is the phenotype that adapts and learns from the
> > environment. These adaptations are not transferred to the genotype.
> > (There are apparently some exceptions, however.)
> >
> > But there is no germ line with memes. "Play it, Sam, for old times'
> > sake," is altered by the environment to "Play it again, Sam," and the
> > alteration is passed on. That's Lamarckian evolution.
>
>Your logic works either way. If there is no germ line, no memeotype/
>phemotype dichotomy, then is no way to distinguish between Lamarckism and
>ordinary mutation. In which case, for the sake of simplicity (Ockham's
>razor), we should consider it ordinary mutation.
>
>
In neo-Lamarckian formulations the germ-line would be a consideration, but
was Lamarck himself aware of such a concept?
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