From: <levy@Oswego.EDU>
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 14:19:57 -0400 (EDT)
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
In-Reply-To: <199809050800.JAA15898@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk>
It seems to me that subliminal mental activity is a fact that should be
accepted by all up to date netizens and all educated people. Subliminally
mined data from the world correllates with demontrable changes in
behavior. Most of what is represented internally is not accessible
through introspection, at least not directly.
I do not want to start a discussion on "belief in subliminal perception".
Assuming that subliminal activity exists and is possibly more prominent
than consciousness as an influence on behavior, we need to ask what
changes this effects on our approach to the spread of behavioral patterns
and information complexexes in society.
I think that by stressing *unconscious* aspects of memetic selection we
both:
a.) Notice how powerful the memetic paradigm could soon become.
b.) Increase the "disturbing"ness of the subject, perhaps to the point
of tabloid hysteria.
and
c.) Do better and more directed experiments and reasearch because we
have facts from neuro-science and cognive-science to work with.
- -
-Robert P. Levy-
- -
A random quote...
"Let thy speech be better than silence, or be silent." -Dionysius the Elder
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