Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA07638 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 23 Jul 2001 13:50:18 +0100 Message-ID: <3B5C1CF2.942CD75F@bioinf.man.ac.uk> Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 13:47:46 +0100 From: Chris Taylor <Christopher.Taylor@man.ac.uk> Organization: University of Manchester X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.77 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U) X-Accept-Language: en To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Logic References: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745FBE@inchna.stir.ac.uk> <995887237.3b5c0885aa5c3@rugth1.phys.rug.nl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > Logic is one of those memeplexes so powerful that they have become
> > absolutely dominant; dominant to such an extent that the very stuff of our
> > thoughts relies on it, and that we don't even see them anymore.
>
> To say there's a meme for being logical is like saying there's a gene for
> being alive. Logic is an expression of something more fundamental than
> human culture. When humans are logical, it's no different than nature being
> natural or animals being animated. Logic doesn't have to selfishly
> propagate its own kind at the expense of all competitors. It follows by
> necessity in the context of abstract intelligence.
> > "Logic" in my view isn't a meme, as it's a way of thinking.
>
> Well, Vincent as you might know, one of the shocking but
> strictly honest and rational implications of memetics
> is that thinking itself is largely governed by memes. A way of
> thinking is equivalent to an adopted memeplex at work.
I'm with Philip on this one.
I reckon that the idea that things in the world can have relationships
which follow predictable rules (more or less the basis of logical
thought) is a meme, as is the 'grand design' religious alternative, and
other superstitions. Do you explain by looking for causes and effects
(and even when you can't find them, still assume the fault is with the
observer, not the rationale), or do you throw your hands up like most of
our ancestors and treat the world as inexplicable to mortals?
The 'logic' meme(plex) dictates that if you assemble parts according to
rules you will learn more about the system, as others have before you
(the important bit). The alternatives are all basically religious-type
behaviours. Actually, so is logic really, reality just appears to back
it up more frequently (increasing the memeplex's fitness, compared to
Religion say). All that could change though - for example some people
run for God when approaching death, because they *really* don't like the
answers logic gives them).
And (!) logic can exist within religion - it's just a behaviour after
all, not a worldview.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chris Taylor (chris@bioinf.man.ac.uk)
http://bioinf.man.ac.uk/ »people»chris
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