Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id TAA22593 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 22 Apr 2001 19:47:14 +0100 Message-ID: <20010422184356.64074.qmail@web10108.mail.yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2001 11:43:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Trupeljak Ozren <ozren_trupeljak@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: The Status of Memetics as a Science To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk In-Reply-To: <20010422170505.AAA7574@camailp.harvard.edu@[205.240.180.102]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
If we start with the assumption that memes have been with us for some
time; that they follow the principles of evolutionary selection; that
they are the reason behind our physical dominance on this planet;
THEN
it would follow that releasing the knowledge about the specific
mechanisms of their existence (knowledge of meme-engineering) could
only lead to a greater diversity; and thus stronger, more robust
"meme-system" (eco-system of the memes) for the whole of their "living
space".
Why do I believe that they (memes) are the reason behind our dominance?
By definition, all transmited knowledge exhibits memetic behavior; and
our physical dominance is the result of our knowledge of theory and
application for laws of nature. The ideas standing behind the rise of
scientific thought could very easily be perceived as being memes.
Why would the release of knowledge of "meme-engineering" lead to
greater diversity of existant memes? Well, from the simple fact that
you would have many more nodes of replication that would mutate memes
on purpose, not just by accident or "flashes of inspiration", and with
far more knowledge of what the results might be.
Why would this greater diversity of memes bring any good to us,
humanity? Well, here I can only go by analogy with biology, in which
the most complex systems exhibit surprising capabilities of survival
and adaptation. In a way, by being exposed to more, and better crafted,
memes, we can raise the immunity to truly virulent ones just by
constant exposure. Fanaticism of any kind might become a rather small
and isolated phenomenon, unlike today...that might be good. :)
again, I might be discovering warm water. But I was provoked by the
discussion on ethics of releasing the knowledge of how the human mind
is manipulated to the general public. If we extoll the principles of
evoultion to be the elegant truth behind our existence, why should we
not accept them as our ethical system, too?
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