Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id PAA21821 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 29 Nov 2001 15:02:16 GMT Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 09:57:02 -0500 Subject: Re: Mutation and Selection Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed From: Wade Smith <wade_smith@harvard.edu> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In-Reply-To: <18494.1007043503@www10.gmx.net> Message-Id: <58F8C24A-E4D9-11D5-80A1-003065A0F24C@harvard.edu> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.475) Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Well take a book, a pencil and draw in it.
Your definition of mutation is bizarre. Although I understand
your inclination to think that any defacing of an artefact is a
mutation of it. And in some ways, perhaps you're right _if_ that
scribble appears in another artefact. Because, like mutations
occuring only in replications in nature, I was assuming
_replications_ of artefacts in culture, or, self-changing
artefacts in culture.
Like I said, that book ain't going to write on itself.
And here- your definition covers vandalism, too-
> You could rip out some of the buttons,
Again, my keyboard will not do that by itself.
And, via software configurations, I can alter the layout of my
keyboard to a Dvorak or a Japanese system. And this would not be
mutation, this is the designed usage of the artefact.
> No, i don't even think that memes are in the mind, i think the
> mind uses
> memes to transfer ideas between minds. Cultural artefacts are
> just a tool
> to transfer ideas from mind to mind, let it be that the
> original creating
> mind already ceased to exist.
That the original creating artefacter has ceased to exist is
irrelevant. The artefact itself exists. My storyteller point was
that his story does not exist when he dies. No recording or
memory of it exists. Oral history requires telling. And, since,
in your explanation, cultural artefacts are the tools that
transfer ideas, memes are not required.
- Wade
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