Date: Tue, 15 Jul 1997 13:32:53 -0700
From: Arel Lucas <arel@pacbell.net>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: Experience and Memes
Mark Mills wrote:
>=20
> Arel brings up the point that every =8Cexperience=B9 is not a meme. (sn=
ip)
> Where do these memes come from?
>=20
> I think it is obvious. We are born with them. They are genetically pl=
aced in our brains.(snip)
> The =8Cfinger movement=B9 meme was placed in the brain genetically, bu=
t=20
required =8Cawakening=B9 and =8Cparticularizing=B9 via cultural education=
and a=20
host of experiences
(snip)
>=20
> There is no way to transfer a meme from one individual to another. We =
simply do the best we can with the memes we are granted at birth.=20
(snip)
> Mark
I think we must be careful to distinguish the replicators which are=20
encoded and "travel" from brain to brain, sometimes via paper or other=20
vectors, from the brain mechanisms which receive memes and give them=20
access to behavioral causation. The analogy here is chemicals to=20
chemical receptor sites (dopamine to dopamine receptor sites, etc.). =20
This does leave the question, however, of where exactly instinctive=20
behaviors fit in the brain-meme complex. Of course these behaviors do=20
not travel, belonging in the genetic rather than the memetic system; but=20
at some point these systems use the same behavioral pathways. The "basic=
=20
foundation," qu'est-ce que c'est?
Arel
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