Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id QAA06784 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 23 Nov 2001 16:09:11 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D147@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Study shows brain can learn without really trying Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 16:04:37 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Ray,
I'm not really disagreeing with you, I was just running with Wade's idea
about the possible lack of necessity for memes, if imitation is, as he
suggested an illusion.
< I'm a little bit confused by what you are saying here but I'll
try and
> address your question as best I can. Other members of a species can be
> called a part of the environment in a broad sense. It's effects of that
> initial environment (aka guppy sees female with drab male) that make the
> animal react differently to a subsequent environment (guppy sees drab male
>
> and brightly colored male and goes towards drab male as opposed to goes
> towards brightly colored male). It's just a long hand way of saying the
> guppy copies the behavior of the other guppy. Guppy imitation of other
> guppies is a pre-programmed response, yes. So is human acquisition of
> language from other humans. What mate choice or what language is acquired
>
> depends on the organism being copied. That specific mate choice or
> language is the memetic, independent element.>
>
I suppose the issue lies in just how independent such things are,
and how much such things are a product of environmental pressures as well.
I think learning, especially social learning, needs to be brought into the
mix. I wouldn't say one's native language is imitated so much as learned.
That doesn't disavow your point though.
Vincent
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