Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 06:56:56 -0400
From: Dr I Price <PEWLEYFORT@compuserve.com>
Subject: Re: Meme pools?/ evolution and ecology
To: "INTERNET:memetics@mmu.ac.uk" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Mario wrote
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
>Bill Benzon?? wrote =
> > Thank you/ I think you might be on to something there. In light heart=
ed
> > moments I have been known to claim that language is something memes
> > invented to have sex with [that is to enable transmittal]. =
Well, when you put things differently, you come close. But, we have an
example here of how the usage-of-'meme'-for-everything obstructs deeper
insights. One specific thing of animals is that they can exchange
information by means of behaviour (which you call memes, but which I
wouldn't). Humans can represent (encode) this information in another
manner by using words. When you have words you indeed can have better
storage and a lot more recombination of information (what you call sex).
Behavioral information stops when the behaviour stops. It is typically
processional information. Words enable to store this information, it is
already a first step towards further encoding like writing.
The basic difference between biology and culture is that biology is pure
chemistry: exchange of information by means of material molecules, while
animals have 'learned' how to exchange nonchemically transmitted
information by using photons (vision) and sound waves. Bill comes close
when he calls these 'memes', but one would better call it culture.
(Where do we put odors? I am still in doubt, but I lean over to
considering it as biology).<
A. It was me not Bill.
B. I agree your concern at 'memes as evrything Mario
C. Thankyou for the second paragraph in the excerpt above. Yes - and I to=
lean towards odors as biology [Perfume and deodarant excepted perhaps]
If Price
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