Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id JAA08210 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 31 Oct 2001 09:55:49 GMT Message-ID: <003101c16180$945e4a00$b5a2bed4@default> From: "Kenneth Van Oost" <Kenneth.Van.Oost@village.uunet.be> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <NEBBKOADILIOKGDJLPMAKEILCHAA.debivort@umd5.umd.edu> Subject: Re: "Smoking" Memes Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 21:21:41 +0100 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2314.1300 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: Lawrence DeBivort <debivort@umd5.umd.edu>
> I've suggested before on the list that a meme, to be accepted by an
> individual, has to meet criteria that are, indeed, specific to the
> individual, and include the individual's key beliefs and hierarchy of
> values. While there are several ways that a meme can be crafted that will
> enable it to be effective with large and unspecified groups of people, the
> basic reality is that meme-acceptance is individualistic.
Hi LDB,
That, in a way, has always been my major stumbling block to accept the
vision that the Weismann Barrier can 't be broken. At least on some level
it can be one, I think.
IMO, natural selection plays only a role on specific levels, not on all.
The evolution, the development of culture is due to inheritance not
selection. I have to weigh my words here,.... the ways by which our
brain can/ might re- present the condition of the organism of which
it is part are due to inheritance, not selection.
The ways by which we stay alive and survive are those which are
getting re- presented in our brain. The ways for choosing out than
the ' right' one, may be genetical/ natural selected, but not the way
itself. The info enclosed in it is inherited, not selected.
It would mean, according to the plague- case, that in order to survive,
the mind, the brain ' orders' the genes, than to select Delta 32, but
very rapidly the gene will be passed on to the offspring, but also
the ways by which we re- present such an illness will be passed on,
not by selection but by ( memetical) inheritance.
We survive on two levels at the same time, body and mind. The one
helps the other in such ways that the body in all its aspects ( and that
means the brain included) " survives ".
Without a mental " re- presentation " of the plague we would not sur-
vive. Such re- presentations are conscient or not- conscient and goes
on constantly.
I hope this is clear. Strange way of seeing the things, but yeah....
Regards,
Kenneth
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