Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA17191 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:44:16 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D043@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Thesis: Memes are DNA-Slaves Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 12:39:43 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Salice,
If I could offer a couple of quick comments.
>> More over, even characteristics deleterious to survival persist,
only
>> depending upon just how destructive they are, how quickly, the
competition,
>> external threat and other factors.
<but in the end it doesn't survive.>
The vast majority of all organisms that have ever existed are now
extinct, and the rest will follow. The point is that cultural
characteristics that aren't overtly utilitarian (in the evolutionary sense)
can survive in culture. An obivous example being religious celibacy.
>> After all, behaviors and ideas will persist in a population
healthy enough
>> to stay alive. But not in ones that disappear.
<my point. if a meme-set would kill it's people it would die too.
> therefore the meme-set (ideas,behaviors...) makes it's population
> survive. it serves the dna.>
>
No need for the people to survive as long as the doctrine does, e.g.
suicidal cults, religious/political martyrs etc. etc. Some memes appear to
drive people to non-adaptive behaviours like celibacy and suicide.
Vincent
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