Subject: Re: Structure of facts and opinions
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 98 10:24:05 -0600
From: Mark Mills <mmills@fastlane.net>
To: "Memetics List" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Message-Id: <E0zCQL9-0005DW-00@dryctnath.mmu.ac.uk>
>This crucial error
>is the denial of the material basis for social phenomena.
I agree.
>If memetics is to fulfill any useful or
>novel purpose, it must attempt to bridge this tired and outdated
>dichotomy.
I agree.
>Our evolved biogenetic nature predisposes individuals to selectively
>attend to certain environmental stimuli suggesting the gratification
>of basic interests such as nutrition, shelter and reproduction.
This seems to reflect the tired and outdated dichotomy mentioned above.
>Our evolved sociocultural nature predisposes us to attend to
>stimuli of relevance in our social striving. Successful memes
>will succeed on the basis of their
>ability to excite the human mind in specific ways which are unique and
>determined largely by evolved cognitive capacities.
This bring up the old chicken and egg problem. Which came first, the
social striving or the meme?
If there is a physical basis for social phenomena, one can conclude that
society is a property of memes rather than a antecedent or consequence.
Just as sticking your finger in water makes it wet, the existence of
memes creates society. There is no reason or justification, it simply is
that way.
Mark
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