Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA17662 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 20 Apr 2001 17:32:06 +0100 X-Authentication-Warning: smtp1.ihug.co.nz: Host p111-tnt1.chc.ihug.co.nz [203.173.227.111] claimed to be oemcomputer Message-ID: <005a01c0c9b6$b016f7e0$6fe3adcb@oemcomputer> From: "Brent Silby" <bsilby@ihug.co.nz> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAKEHECCAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Subject: Re: The Status of Memetics as a Science Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 04:26:40 +1200 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0057_01C0CA1B.434384C0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
[Lawrence wrote:"The only danger I can see to memetics (other than that it might be poorly
done and waste time) is that it might give rise to an engineering application that might be misused ethically or socially."]
I think this is already happening -- just look at the advertising industry.
Brent.
------------------------
Brent Silby 2001
Memetics Research
and Engineering Project
Check Out: Earth Survival,
http://www.geocities.com/brent_silby/earth_survival.html
[Feel free to visit my sites]
[BasePage]: http://www.geocities.com/brent_silby
[Collective Intelligence]:
http://globeclubs.theglobe.com/the_collective-L/list.taf
Room 601a
Department of Philosophy
University of Canterbury
Email: b.silby@phil.canterbury.ac.nz
__________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence DeBivort
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2001 1:25 AM
Subject: The Status of Memetics as a Science
I find little difficulty in distinguishing religion from memetics. Memetics
models and tracks the spread of ideas and beliefs. Religion is composed of
beliefs (whether they are 'correct' or not). At a mimimum, then, memetics is
meta to religion.
The only danger I can see to memetics (other than that it might be poorly
done and waste time) is that it might give rise to an engineering
application that might be misused ethically or socially.
- Lawrence
<Religion is typically about following after entities which possibly
don't
> even exist. Memetics could be in the same ballpark, but I wonder if this
> means memetics too is dangerous and insiduous.>
>
Vincent: Indeed, indeed. This is I think what some ignore, others embrace,
and some of us worry about constantly.
Vincent
===============================================================
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
===============================================================
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
===============================================================
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
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Apr 20 2001 - 17:36:05 BST