Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA19892 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Sat, 29 Sep 2001 17:12:14 +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: <1001779545.3bb5f1599cd22@rugth1.phys.rug.nl> Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 18:05:45 +0200 (CEST) References: <F240OhmTwqPWqpeQF5Q0000a387@hotmail.com> In-Reply-To: <F240OhmTwqPWqpeQF5Q0000a387@hotmail.com> 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
> >From: "salice" <salice@gmx.net>
> >Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >Subject: RE: Thesis: Memes are DNA-Slaves
> >Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 00:40:33 +0000
> >
> >
> > > What scale would explain coming to the aid of a whale or other wild
>
> >animal
> > > in distress? I watched a program recently where a whale was in
> distress
> >and
> > > a bunch of people got together to help it and it was then sent to a
>
> >water
> > > park for rehabilitation. *Why* (in the evolutionary sense of the
> word)
> >would
> > > someone consider the plight of sea turtles a serious concern?
> Would
> > > inclusive fitness or reciprocal altruism fit the bill here?
> >
> >i dont know on dna-level, maybe these
> >people share some genes with the distressed whale. they could also
> >get money from tourists in the water park. on the meme level i mean
> >you saw them on tv, if they wouldnt have saved the whale you wouldnt
> >have seen them. it's just some kind of humor. but it makes you think
> >so there's some meme business happening no matter how stupid it
> >looks.
> >
> >i dont know like many people feel sad when they see a dead bird on
> >the street but have no problem killing spiders or other insects.
> >
> The Jainists have taken respect (or reverence?) for animal to a level
> I've
> not seen except for the hardcore vegans and animal rights fols (such as
>
> found amongst the hard-core of PETA). How does one explain the ethical
>
> concerns of Jainists and animal rights activists or those of
> conservationists (IMO not to be equated with animal rights activists)
> who
> rally behind endangered and threatened species? What in the Environment
> of
> Evolutionary Adaptedness would predispose someone toward going to these
>
> lengths of helping non-kin who probably won't reciprocate?
>
> I'd splat a housefly, but would leave a dragonfly, butterfly or ladybug
>
> alone. I've learned to accept the presence of spiders at a young age,
> though
> I fear a bite from a black widow or brown recluse.
> >
> >maybe there is some dependence or just cultural learned belief.
> >
> >
> >
> If humans as primates should have prepared fears for snakes, how does
> one
> account for the snakes as pets industry? Some people really love their
>
> snakes. While working on a sea turlte project as side job we had was
> catching reptiles and amphibians to identify, measure and release. I got
>
> over my fear (innate or learned) of snakes pretty quick. Getting bit by
> a
> rat snake wasn't all that bad of an experience. I have a respect for
> snakes
> after handling several with varying dispositions, ranging from the
> feisty
> bite-at all-costs black racers to the docile scarlet snakes.
Memetics provides an answer: I dub it interspecific altruism
meant to increase one's own cultural fitness (apart from
the animal subjects). See one of my previous postings...
Philip.
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