RE: Hosts vs. Instances

Richard Brodie (richard@brodietech.com)
Sun, 27 Sep 1998 07:52:26 -0700 

From: "Richard Brodie" <richard@brodietech.com>

To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>

Subject: RE: Hosts vs. Instances

Date: Sun, 27 Sep 1998 07:52:26 -0700

In-Reply-To: <360E8C2D.787A4E5F@metz.une.edu.au>

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Bruce Howlett wrote:
<<The problem with Richard and Aaron is that they fail to recognise that
they are prejudiced, and continue to use their considerable intelligence to
defend a particular stance they perceive to be the only right one. >>

I, and I'm sure Aaron, stand chastised and humbled. Once again, you've put
your finger on the crux of the situation. You know, this one statement may
be the key to moving this whole debate forward. It got me to thinking and I
must say I think you're right. Here are some quotes I dug up to support your
statement::

"There are no whole truths, only half-truths. It's trying to treat them as
whole truths that plays the devil."--Alfred North Whitehead

"Labeling a meme 'true' lodges it in your programming and eliminates your
conscious ability to choose your own memes. ... If you realize there are
only half-truths -- that the truth of any meme depends upon the context in
which it exists -- you have a powerful weapon against the programming of
mind viruses."

"...'the truth' is always based on some set of assumptions -- memes. Until
you have really mapped out your memetic programming, you're not aware that
you even have these underlying memes making certain things look true. In my
experience, the more you understand your own memetic programming, the less
anything in life looks like the Absolute Truth."

"...memetics is a scientific model. It's one way of looking at things. It's
looking at ideas -- memes -- as distinct entities in competition for a share
of your mind and a share of everyone else's. ... I'm NOT saying this is the
Truth. I'm NOT saying this is what Really Happens. I'm NOT saying this is
the Only Way or the Right Way to look at the mind."

[A free autographed first edition of my first book "Getting Past OK" to the
first person on this list who posts a correct identification of the source
of those quotes.]
All the best memes,

Richard

Richard Brodie richard@brodietech.com http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/
Author, "Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme"
http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/votm.htm
Free newsletter! Visit Meme Central at
http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm

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Bruce=20 Howlett wrote:

<<The problem with Richard and Aaron is = that they=20 fail to recognise that they are prejudiced, and continue to use their=20 considerable intelligence to defend a particular stance they perceive to = be the=20 only right one.  >>

 
I, and=20 I'm sure Aaron, stand chastised and humbled. Once again, you've put your = finger=20 on the crux of the situation. You  know, this one statement may be = the key=20 to moving this whole debate forward. It got me to thinking and I must = say I=20 think you're right. Here are some quotes I dug up to support your=20 statement::
 
"There are no whole truths, only half-truths. It's trying = to treat=20 them as whole truths that plays the devil."--Alfred North=20 Whitehead
 
"Labeling a meme 'true' lodges it in your programming and = eliminates=20 your conscious ability to choose your own memes. ... If you realize = there are=20 only half-truths -- that the truth of any meme depends upon the context = in which=20 it exists -- you have a powerful weapon against the programming of mind=20 viruses."
 
"...'the truth' is always based on some set of assumptions = -- memes.=20 Until you have really mapped out your memetic programming, you're not = aware that=20 you even have these underlying memes making certain things look true. In = my=20 experience, the more you understand your own memetic programming, the = less=20 anything in life looks like the Absolute = Truth."
 
"...memetics is a scientific model. It's one way of = looking at=20 things. It's looking at ideas -- memes -- as distinct entities in = competition=20 for a share of your mind and a share of everyone else's. ... I'm NOT = saying this=20 is the Truth. I'm NOT saying this is what Really Happens. I'm NOT saying = this is=20 the Only Way or the Right Way to look at the = mind."
 
[A=20 free autographed first edition of my first book "Getting Past = OK" to=20 the first person on this list who posts a correct identification of the = source=20 of those quotes.]

All the best memes,

Richard

Richard Brodie  richard@brodietech.com  http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/
Author, = "Virus of=20 the Mind: The New Science of the Meme" http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/votm.htm
Free = newsletter!=20 Visit Meme Central at http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm =

 
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