Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA29702 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 3 Dec 2001 12:20:16 GMT Date: Mon, 3 Dec 2001 11:11:57 +0000 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Debunking pseudoscience: Why horoscopes really work Message-ID: <20011203111157.A1287@ii01.org> References: <001001c16c62$3552d3e0$3524f4d8@teddace> <0111211504020D.01049@storm.berkeley.edu> <004501c176f6$706febe0$8788b2d1@teddace> <01112816595402.01083@storm.berkeley.edu> <005d01c178a4$7b425940$13c1b3d1@teddace> <20011129083627.C1366@ii01.org> <006601c179de$3e32c5e0$44c1b3d1@teddace> <20011201101017.A1238@ii01.org> <003101c17b55$5d230fa0$7bc0b3d1@teddace> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <003101c17b55$5d230fa0$7bc0b3d1@teddace> User-Agent: Mutt/1.3.23i From: Robin Faichney <robin@ii01.org> Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
On Sun, Dec 02, 2001 at 09:18:28AM -0800, Dace wrote:
> Robin:
>
> > > Who says evolution is reducible to genetic mutation? The only thing we
> can
> > > say for sure is that organisms can't develop and species can't evolve
> except
> > > to the extent that they in some way retain forms and behaviors from
> their
> > > past.
> >
> > I've never formally studied genetics, or even biology, so I'll just
> > say this: as I understand it, structures and behaviours are retained
> > due to being genetically determined -- plus, of course, for sufficiently
> > social and intelligent species, there's memetics. I'm quite confident in
> > saying that no other mechanism is known, and I get the impression that
> > practically everyone working in this and related areas believes that
> > no other mechanism is required. Amateurs with bees in their bonnets,
> > like you and Sheldon, have no credibility.
>
> That's Sheldrake. He was director of graduate studies in cell biology at
> Cambridge before retiring to pursue his own research projects full time.
OK, I retract "amateur", in his case, even though I'm doubtful of the
degree of overlap between cell and evolutionary biology. But I couldn't
ever take anyone seriously who insists that learning precedes evolution,
regardless of their background.
-- Robin Faichney "One person's mess is another's complexity" inside information -- http://www.ii01.org/=============================================================== 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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