Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id AAA11879 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 20 Feb 2001 00:39:46 GMT X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.207] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Darwinian evolution vs memetic evolution Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 19:37:15 -0500 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F158MqtQQC1Stvptvt4000041fe@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 20 Feb 2001 00:37:15.0300 (UTC) FILETIME=[459CF640:01C09AD5] 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: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 08:39:39 +0000
>
>On Sat, Feb 17, 2001 at 08:37:23PM -0500, Wade T.Smith wrote:
> > Hi Robin Faichney -
> >
> > >Surely all "fitness" means is that, in any given context, some things
> > >are more stable than others -- "fit" is what we call the stable ones.
> >
> > And what, pray tell, is stable?
>
>Darwin's "survival of the fittest" is really a special case of a more
>general law of survival of the stable. The universe is populated by
>stable things. Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene, first edition, p13.
>
Slightly misleading historically speaking. AFAIK the "survival of the
fittest" cliche' was coined by Herbert Spencer. Lots of people attribute it
to Darwin though.
>
>What is fit is what is stable is what survives.
>
>
What survives is what is fit is what is stable. Not a whole lot of
information there.
What about differential heritable contribution to the next generation?
Besides, if an organism survives, this doesn't necessarily mean that it has
succeeded in reproducing. Someone could live to the ripe old age of 70
without passing anything on besides their wisdom and charm. I guess they
could contribute to their inclusive fitness if they helped reproductively
successful relatives raise their own kids though.
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