Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id RAA06932 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:23:49 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D0D3@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: "Smoking" Memes Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 16:21:05 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi,
Not that I'm trying to criticise the line of the role of individuals in the
process, but I do find it odd in a way to see such enthusiasm for this line
of thought, since for me what's interesting is what makes some things spread
across many individuals. In other words, taking the differences between
individuals as given, why do some things seem to persist dramatically when
others do not (e.g. fashion trends, blockbuster movies etc.). Perhaps one
may find the answer to this, in reverse, if you like, by exploring why some
appear "immune" to memes (similar to say studies of those people that don't
become addicted to drugs, or compulsive behaviours like gambling and
comparing them to addicts physiologically).
I still don't see this as really that productive in terms of cultural
selection, as opposed to natural selection. Technically, some would say,
natural selection doesn't work at the level of individuals either,
individuals organisms anyway, but it seems to me very clear that cultural
selection is a social process not an individual one. Which isn't to say
individuals aren't important, only that it's a different level of
analysis.... IMHO.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Kenneth Van Oost
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 2:52 pm
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: Re: "Smoking" Memes
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: salice <salice@gmx.net>
> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 2:21 PM
> Subject: Re: "Smoking" Memes
>
>
> >
> > > << The latest scientific thoughts about this goes as follows,
> > > it seems that each individual must be treated ' individualistic '.
> >
> > Yes, i think that is very important also to meme-theory. As of today
> > people seem to be treated basically the same when considering
> > spreading of memes or individual meme-handling. There might be some
> > fundamental aspects which are the same for everyone but in most cases
> > i think the selection varies between people.
>
> << The line of thought is here that each specific cancer has a specific
> out-
> come in each and any individual, that due to our specific genetic/ memetic
> built up.
> The ways by which we re- present our organism into our brain is for each
> and
> everybody different.
> Damasio describes this as positive tropism ( not sure of the term in
> English)_
> that would be than those functions and dispositions of an organism which
> it can use to make for a specific behavior.
>
> In a way, the idea of a possible memetical isomorphism takes form, IMO.
> And as an additional consideration, we might find the answer why some
> people are more than others succeptible for any type of meme in those
> fundamental aspects of the individialistic- nature of everyone.
> But I am not yet sure where to begin to search....
>
> Regards,
>
> Kenneth
>
> > > I know, that some investigations were done in the area of the plague
> and
> > > aids. There too, science found, specific genes blocking the
> development
> > > of the pest and aids. I have to check my archives for more detail, if
> you
> > > want.
> >
> > Yep.
> >
> > ===============================================================
> > This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> > Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> > For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> > see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
> >
>
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
> see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
>
>
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