Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id HAA18720 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 23 Jan 2002 07:07:29 GMT Message-ID: <009d01c1a3e4$0e5afec0$6621aace@oemcomputer> From: "PHILIP JONKERS" <philipjonkers@prodigy.net> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <F175olvkpCeE75pzUcj0001d13e@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Emotional Expression Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 23:00:39 -0900 Organization: Prodigy Internet Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.00.2615.200 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2615.200 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
I think ONE of the reasons we chose to couch the ideas of science, law
and
medicine in Latin and Greek words is bacause they didn't carry with them
the
emotional baggage of words we use to talk about our daily lives. Words
like
honor, duty, country and faith rouse certain emotions that have been
drilled
into us since birth. For scientific purposes and objectivity we have to
separate what we see from what we feel about it. Many a false theory
has
sprung up because the researcher wanted to believe in it. My theory can
sometimes have as much of an emotional influence as my wife, my
children, my
home or my faith. Emotions often shape what we believe rather than
being
shaped by it.
Grant
Surely combinations of emotions can be considered as memes (or memeplexs)
which carry with them thier own connotations. If you say that emotions of
others or theories(?) can influence you how is this different from ideas
influencing you? If you swap idea for emotion were is the difference?
Incedently, as someone noted earlier, i agree that this is a good place for
exibiting a theory, and congrats for doing so. If a list like this can't
stand some innovation, suggestions or theories what is the point of it?
Steve
Emotions and ideas can be completely detached, as the same idea can have
a different emotial impact on different people and yet preserve its meaning.
For instance, the idea `make peace not war', is usually met with a joyous
emotion. The people at the war-industry however meet it with a different
emotion as they will regard it as an `unrealistic, untenable and
overromantic idea'.
By the way, I like to see the former happen of course but recognize that
it's
hardly feasible if at all.
Also, I don't think emotions are directly transmittable by themselves. You
can't
transfer anger without first communicating its source. Therefore I wouldn't
say
emotions are memes.
Philip.
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