Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 17:31:45 -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>
Mark
Very interesting. I like the idea.
>If there is a difference between biology and culture, the difference is =
in the frequency ranges of each system. Intercellular biology deals =
with lower frequency waves than culture. If a hertz is defined as =
'one cycle per second,' biological processes range between the .00001 to =
1000 hertz frequency range (circadian rhythms to brainwaves). Sound =
waves are in the 20 to 20,000 hertz range. Visible electromagnetic =
waves range from 50,000 to 300,000 hertz.
'Culture' might be seen as life's expansion into higher frequency waves =
(higher entropy, information space). This expansion started when life =
forms evolved senses to 'convert' high frequency sound and =
electromagnetic information into low frequency chemical and =
electrochemical messages (meaning). Humans has extended this by =
becoming capable of generating high frequency meaning.
I'm defending the physical analogy between genes and memes. They are =
analogous systems residing in different frequency domains. From this =
perspective, it is not hard to see how computers will fit into the =
picture, but I'll leave that for another day.<
But what if physicality - permanence or durability or something varies as=
the inverse of frequency. How long does a meme transmitting at 300khz
endure compared to a gene at 0.1khz? Is there some kind of replicator
quantum at work?
Just a thought
If
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