Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA06068 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sun, 22 Jul 2001 17:21:23 +0100 From: Philip Jonkers <P.A.E.Jonkers@phys.rug.nl> X-Authentication-Warning: rugth1.phys.rug.nl: www-data set sender to jonkers@rugth1.phys.rug.nl using -f To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Logic Message-ID: <995818721.3b5afce1c20c5@rugth1.phys.rug.nl> Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2001 18:18:41 +0200 (CEST) References: <Pine.WNT.4.33.0107201051360.51-100000@C157775-A.frndl1.wa.home.com> In-Reply-To: <Pine.WNT.4.33.0107201051360.51-100000@C157775-A.frndl1.wa.home.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit User-Agent: IMP/PHP IMAP webmail program 2.2.5 X-Originating-IP: 62.100.0.234 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi TJ,
Is logic a meme?
Logic offers reasonable answers to rational questions. It is
a reflection of how the physical world works. Nature ultimately
works according to the laws of logic, if it didn't there would be
no such place as our universe in the first place. Anyway, to solve a technical
or physical problem requires logic to arrive at a satisfactory
working solution. Having a solution based not on logic will have to
rely on luck or brute-force operant conditioning (trial-and-error).
In general, if the problem solver uses logic he will come to a higher
quality solution in less time and with less expenditure of resources.
Therefore, the logical approach to any problem will be preferred
over other - less logical and more irrational - angles.
People will gain competitive edges by developing an affinity
for emphasizing logic in their problem solving approach. In the past,
there ought to have been a true genetic interest in developing,
either via creation or imitation, logical behavior. This means a memetic
drive towards thinking more-and-more logical, analogous to the
memetic driving leading to the big human brain as Susan Blackmore
argues in `The Meme-Machine'.
It therefore seems only logical (!) to infer that, YES, logic is
synonymous to an extremely powerful memeplex. This niche is supported
by the existence of the whole realm of rational-thought disciplines
built on logic. Mathematics, science and technology are examples of
extremely successful memeplexes which would not have come to existence without
logic.
Indeed, I owe it to logic that I'm capable of coming to the conclusion
that, indeed, logic is a memeplex, and a very successful one at that.
Cheers,
Philip Jonkers.
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