Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA26561 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:45:33 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101746038@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Song of Myself Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:09:12 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I have to say this persistant misuse of a radio analogy, presumably stemming
from Sheldrake himself, is remarkable. How best to argue that biological
processes are mechanistic... oh well, let's use a mechanical analogy by
citing radio!
In order for radios to pick up anything more than the hum of big bang, and
other natural producers of radio waves is if someone somewhere is
deliberately transmitting signals that have specifically been encoded into
radio transmissions at particular wavelengths. So if this analogy is a
better way to think of MR, then who or what is sending the signals, and how,
that organisms are supposedly using to construct themselves?
This doesn't get rid of the designer problem at all, and as been admitted
Sheldrake is silent on the how, which leaves it a pretty empty theory.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Dace
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2001 8:27 pm
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: Song of Myself
>
> > > > > > We already know that the genes are there;
> > > > >
> > > > > That we do. What we don't know is that they contain instructions
> for
> > > > > the creation of a transcomputational structure known as an
> "organism."
> > > > >
> > > > Actually, we do, for when we inject them into an empty ovum and
> > > > apply electric current, Dolly results.
> > >
> > > And when you turn on your radio, Eminem results. So, is Eminem
> contained
> > > inside your radio?
> >
> Chris wrote:
> > So how might genes encode a radio for MR 'stuff'? How would we spot a
> > mutation in such genes?
>
> Genes don't encode anything. There's no "code." There's no information
> or
> instructions or program or blueprints. There's a template for producing
> sequences of amino acids, but the rest is faery tale. Genes function in
> the
> body the same way a tuning device functions in a radio. It's not as if
> 101.3 megahertz is somehow a code describing the music that appears over
> that channel.
>
> It's interesting that the "instructions" have moved from the genes to the
> complex, nonlinear interaction of genes with each other and proteins. The
> basis of morphic resonance is no different than electromagentic resonance.
> It's all about vibration. Every structure in the body has its own
> distinctive pattern of vibration corresponding to its shape. The "dance"
> of
> genes and proteins is in sympathy to the same dance carried out by the
> genes
> and proteins of other members of its species. However, each individual
> starts with a slightly different composition of genes, and this guarantees
> that the individual will be unique. Genes account for our differences,
> not
> our samenesses.
>
> Ted
>
>
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
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>
>
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