Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id HAA17429 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Mon, 14 Jan 2002 07:31:09 GMT Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20020114020908.02c41500@pop.cogeco.ca> X-Sender: hkhenson@pop.cogeco.ca X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 02:28:16 -0500 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: Keith Henson <hkhenson@cogeco.ca> Subject: Re: Knowledge, Memes and Sensory Perception In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.32.20020114153634.00701888@pophost.nor.com.au> References: <5.1.0.14.0.20020111113419.02c32160@pop.cogeco.ca> <20020111101447.A553@ii01.org> <3.0.1.32.20020111163833.00690e74@pophost.nor.com.au> <3C3DB596.6010202@bioinf.man.ac.uk> <3.0.1.32.20020111163833.00690e74@pophost.nor.com.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
At 03:36 PM 14/01/02 +1100, Jeremy Bradley <jeremyb@nor.com.au>
wrote:
snip
>Keith
>You may have read in my posts that I believe that the 'might-is-right' meme
>(biblically derived), is false.
Unless a meme is subjected to selection by the scientific method or some
other selection force (like causing its followers to take action resulting
in their death) it being true or false makes little difference in how well
it does in occupying brains. There are probably more people who know their
sign than there are people who could identify common astrophysical objects.
>I also contend that it has the capacity to
>bring about the demise of our species - autogenecide. For me, it is akin to
>a virus.
>What do you think?
All memes have to characteristics in common with viruses.
More of western culture taking over the world is due to CD's and movies
than it is to bombers and tanks.
On the subject of your worry, conventional or even nuclear war is extremely
unlikely end the human species. Not to say it could not be done by
nanotechnology, expected in the next 15 years or so. But I suspect
something of us will make it through. Personally I am planning for the Far
Edge Party 1/4 million years from now.
Keith Henson
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