Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id AAA19378 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 15 Jan 2002 00:27:09 GMT X-Sender: unicorn@pop.greenepa.net Message-Id: <p04320401b8691f9c780f@[192.168.2.3]> In-Reply-To: <AA-237F8C790FE31A6BA20AAB7D146F1EED-ZZ@maillink1.prodigy.net> References: <AA-237F8C790FE31A6BA20AAB7D146F1EED-ZZ@maillink1.prodigy.net> Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2002 19:23:19 -0500 To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk From: "Francesca S. Alcorn" <unicorn@greenepa.net> Subject: RE: playing at suicide Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
>The original purpose of memes indeed was to function
>as tools. Maybe the lot of them can still be put
>into that category, I don't know. You're probably
>right at least on the majority of them being tools.
>The original function of memes was that they were
>valuable for humans. They increased survival chances
>of its hosts. Consequently the human brain had a
>true interest in stimulating meme-processing activity.
>The early humans who were most engaged with meme
>processing survived and bred best. A selective
>pressure for meme-affinity built up.
It may be that the *ability* to produce memes increased
survivability, or perhaps it was the production of one or two
specific memes which enhanced our survivability. All other memes may
be a fortunate (or unfortunate) by-product.
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