Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA14108 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 30 Apr 2001 16:45:01 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745E1C@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: The Status of Memetics as a Science Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 16:41:08 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
<No one expects the Spanish Inquisition! :)
> Seriously, though, if you believe that you can quantify the suffering,
> and thus also quantify the feeling of pleasure, Bach wins clearly.
> Inquisition period was rather specific, relatively short lived, and not
> many people (in absolute numbers) had the opportunity to experience
> her. Bach's music is going to stay with us (arguably) as long as we as
> a species can enjoy the music, and that has already been longer then
> the period of mass atrocities done in the name of Inquisition. Future
> millions will also enjoy Bach.>
>
I've never much cared for Bach (see my various Tom Jones posts, that
people seem to have a blind spot over :-)).
<the idea behind, though, that religious and political authorities
> caused far more suffering to untold millions then their support of arts
> and sciences could ever remedy, is a valid one. I am at loss how to
> compare the two, though...>
>
One way is to compare the credibility of the claims on which actions
were based. When you look at religions you increasingly find, depending on
one's point of view, unfortunate mistakes or dreadful manipulation of people
for despicable ends. Science too can be evaluated on these grounds (again,
depending on one's point of view as to how science has been used), but at
least in science the basis of actions, on occasion, has some sense to them.
[I'll admit this to be a very arguable point, though].
Vincent
(BTW, sorry if these posts are ages after yours but, I'm a bit
behind at work, and am only getting through the list posts slowly);
Vincent
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