Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id IAA05395 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 18 Feb 2001 08:02:41 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.240] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 03:00:14 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F14296PnPlpNvHXsprw0000d51a@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 18 Feb 2001 08:00:14.0380 (UTC) FILETIME=[D32736C0:01C09980] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: "Memetics Discussion List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution
>Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 21:31:53 -0500
>
>Hi Joe E. Dees -
>
> >And thus begins the endless journey into the semiotic web, where
> >each word meaning depends upon the meanings of a plethora of
> >others, endlessly.
>
>Which I'll graciously if hangheadedly admit to undertaking, perhaps all
>too often. But I remain somewhat confused about how one can talk about
>stability within dynamic processes, although, even the river's banks stay
>on their sides.
>
>
There is some stability in developmental processes. At least for vertebrates
there's a basic body plan (bauplan) and a procession through a relatively
conserved phylotypic period of development where one sees things like a
notochord, post anal tail, and pharyngeal apparatus (arches and pouches).
Vertebrates are known to have dorsal hollow central nervous systems too.
From these shared beginnings vertebrate embryos diverge from their archetype
along pathways that show major variations on a theme. Whether this
phylotypic stability reflects developmental constraint or stabilizing
selection is a matter of debate.
Reading some Piaget recently, I'm tempted to invoke canalization or chreodes
(sensu Waddington), where one can visualize a river bed of sorts, a
necessary path.
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