Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id TAA28766 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 24 Apr 2001 19:55:31 +0100 Message-ID: <20010424185204.4889.qmail@awcst094.netaddress.usa.net> Date: 24 Apr 2001 14:52:04 EDT From: "Emilio M.Recio" <n2wog@usa.net> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: [Re: Genetic transmission of phallic attraction?!? [was Re: memes and sexuality]] X-Mailer: USANET web-mailer (34FM.0700.16C.01) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
"J. R. Molloy" <jr@shasta.com> wrote:
>From: "TJ Olney" <market@cc.wwu.edu>
>>Two things to clear up here, 1) the difference between predisposition
>>and determinancy. And 2) These two things are of different logical
>>types and must be treated at the appropriate logical level.
>>
>
> That is an important distinction, and helps to explain how
> predisposition can become determinacy via cultural feedback and
> evironmental reinforcement. In this way, memetics may amplify and
> augment genetics (though sometimes they conflict for ideological
> reasons).
>
No, I do not have a problem with the ''useless hypothesis'' (as you quote of
cultural relativism) of predisposition. I understand the theory behind it, and
it *seems* reasonable. What I have a problem with is the use of the phallic
_power_ symbol. If you were to say that, then how about rectangular
_communication_ symbols. Afterall, there are books, and computers, phones, TV,
radio these are all more or less rectangular, etc etc.
What I have a problem with, is the application of the term ``power'' in that
statement. And the point I was getting at was that ``power'' is VERY
culturally relative... in fact there's nothing objective about power at all...
it's not as simple as control.
Like I said, I would grant that it makes *sense* (i am skeptical if there's
anything solid there, but it's a good theory anyways) that there is something
attracting us towards ``the first tool'' ... very probably a stick of some
sort. But to attach the notion of power is very shortsighted.
Best Regards,
E. M. Recio
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* Applied Sociology and Participatory Research *
* Department of Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology *
* Drexel University *
* Philadelphia, PA 19104; USA *
* Email: <emr22@drexel.edu> ICQ: <458042> *
* Homepage: < http://polywog.navpoint.com > *
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