Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA29016 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 17 Jan 2002 14:53:15 GMT Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D1E9@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: playing at suicide Date: Thu, 17 Jan 2002 14:30:35 -0000 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
<Are you saying, then, that animals don't pass memes? If if they
do, what
> tools do they have to do it with other than empanthy and mimicry? They
> certainly can't use words. Dawkins, himself, used animals to demonstrate
> his concept of a meme.>
>
The memetic capacity of animals is in dispute- the mimetic capacity
of animals is not. Some, like Dugatkin argue forcibly for cultural
transmission in animals, but many do not accept it. Personally I think his
argument is persuasive. However, there's a real difference between saying
that in certain contexts animals will copy members of their own species
rather than follow their apparently 'normal' behaviours (in Dugatkin's case,
mate selection in guppies), and saying that this is an indication of
empathy- or intentional behaviour.
<You also say, "memes require replication." Are you saying we don't
> replicate words? Your point is beginning to escape me here.>
>
Think about what replication actually means, and maybe you'll
understand the point.
Vincent
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