Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id GAA19115 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 6 Feb 2002 06:44:48 GMT Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 22:39:03 -0800 Message-Id: <200202060639.g166d3R09857@mail3.bigmailbox.com> Content-Type: text/plain Content-Disposition: inline Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary X-Mailer: MIME-tools 4.104 (Entity 4.116) X-Originating-Ip: [66.156.194.113] From: "Joe Dees" <joedees@addall.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Selfish memes ? Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk('binary' encoding is not supported, stored as-is)
> "Kenneth Van Oost" <Kenneth.Van.Oost@village.uunet.be> <kennethvanoost@myrealbox.com> Re: Selfish memes ?Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 22:15:46 +0100
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Keith Henson <hkhenson@cogeco.ca>
>
>> Jeeze guys. "Selfish" in context of gene, memes or computer viruses is
>> *metaphor*. It is a short way of expressing in the fact that genes that
>> build bodies better able to get the those genes into the next generation
>> become more common in future generations. Darwinian evolution has been
>> restated in the past decades not as "survival" so much as reproductive
>success.
>> Please don't try to make a big deal out of something so simple.
>
>Hi Keith,
>
>I suppose this was adressed to me, if not... sorry !
>
>I don 't want to make a big deal out of something you think is simple.
>IMO, it is not !
>
>Maybe you don 't know this, but upon this list I ' defend ' a some what
>individualistic view. That is, where you think that the kin group is impor-
>tant for any behavior, trait or habit I try to come to the same result star-
>ting from an individualistic point of view.
>
>Throughout history, psychology and philosophy, place and status of the
>individual has been always problematic. I am interested in the ' why '.
>It seems, according to which position you wanna take in, that the indi-
>vidual exist and does not exist_ that allegedly to the notion if our lust
>for
>knowledge is an anthropological tendency or not.
>
>Selfishness is related to individualism, to authenicity and autonomy_ and
>that is just the problem !
>Selfishness implies something that is above the group, and we can 't handle
>this. Selfishness means, standing out, being somebody, profilating yourself.
>
>In the context of memes, the notion that memes could be in such a way
>selfish, is apparently too hot to handle.
>The problem of dichotomy is playing tricks on us.
>For all we know are , the group- related behavioral traits and habits bio-
>logical/ anthropological biased, and that should mean that ' individual/
>individualistic and indiviualism ' are execptions to the rule.
>
>In a way, thinking that memes would be selfisch is then impossible !
>And moreover, any ' individual '- aspect of something would be re-
>garded as hostile and inferior... because the ' group ' is in charge, gives
>meaning, conduct rules and laws.
>See what happens in biology, one man, one view... Darwin !
>All the rest is bullshit ! Are you sure !? I am not !
>
>It is not Darwin who have set the rules of the game,... the group scientist
>who followed his footsteps did, and still does !
>Are you sure you follow Darwin or do you think that you follow the group !?
>Both are different approaches !
>
Genes can be genetic, memes can be memetic, but only selves can be selfish.
>
>Regards,
>
>Kenneth
>
>
>===============================================================
>This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
>Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
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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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