Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id VAA15897 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 27 Sep 2001 21:23:42 +0100 Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2001 15:19:15 -0500 (EST) From: "Derek Gatherer" <gatherer@biotech.ufl.org> Message-Id: <200109272019.PAA21134@snipe.biotech.ufl.org> Subject: RE: Thesis: Memes are DNA-slaves Content-Type: text Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Apparently-To: memetics-outgoing@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk
Salice,
Obviously memes are dependent on DNA in the trivially true sense that without
humans there could be no human culture. But one could extend that argument to
claiming that without matter there would be no genes - so are genes matter-slaves?
So it really doesn't take us any further than pointing out what is obviously
the case. The real question is whether or not memes can exhibit evolutionary
dynamics in their own right. Ifd:
a) the population is not under any great selective pressure
b) cultural transmission media are rapid
Then memetic evolution could be independent and the selective forces on the
memes would largely consist of other memes
Of course, if the population was under some selective pressure and the meme
provided the solution to the 'problem', then in fact the reverse could occur,
in that the culture would drag along the genes.
Derek
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