Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA17892 (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 17:12:00 +0100 From: Philip Jonkers <P.A.E.Jonkers@phys.rug.nl> X-Authentication-Warning: rugth1.phys.rug.nl: www-data set sender to jonkers@localhost using -f To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: RE: Thesis: Memes are DNA-slaves Message-ID: <1001693255.3bb4a04736712@rugth1.phys.rug.nl> Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 18:07:35 +0200 (CEST) References: <E15mjxn-000559-00@dryctnath.mmu.ac.uk> In-Reply-To: <E15mjxn-000559-00@dryctnath.mmu.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit User-Agent: IMP/PHP IMAP webmail program 2.2.6 X-Originating-IP: 129.125.13.3 Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > 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.
Yep, and it has a name too. Susan Blackmore called it:
gene-meme co-evolution. To early humans memes (tools,
argricultural inventions, hunting skills and what have you)
determined what genes were preferrable. Personally,
I believe (a dangerous verb to use now :)) genes spurring
the development of the qualities of
1. imitation (to copy memes),
2. imagination (to picture somebody performing some desired
memetic skill using retrieval from memory),
3. consciousness (to actively partake
in learning and/or modifying some memetic skill),
4. reason (to fill in missing gaps of some desired memetic skill
or to improve some mastered skill) and
5. manual/mental dexterity (to implement and express a memetic
skill)
All of the above features have the purpose to enhance
memetic prowess and skill and thus historically improve
chances of survival. At a certain stage in history the
co-evolution more-or-less saturated due to physical constraints,
e.g. brains simply don't get bigger than they are right now
as our poor mother's wouldn't survive otherwise.
Philip.
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