From: <levy@Oswego.EDU>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 15:44:39 -0500 (EST)
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: The Significance of Memetics is ...
In-Reply-To: <199811210859.IAA18459@alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk>
Can anyone here state an important insight or even an accurate prediction
that has come from using the memetics paradigm? I don't know of any--
unless you count the epistemological/ folk psychological influence, in
which case it may even have done more harm than good, so far. However if
there are any reasons to pursue memetics, other than to propogate its own
memes, We should like to hear them.
I am aware that the premises make sense, but how much good has it done for
for anthropology, or evolutionary biology for example, as far as empirical
confirmation goes. ?
I like memetics too , but perhaps in the same way that I like conspiracy
theory and science fiction-- the latter of which ahould be taken slightly
more seriously as a mode of influencing the goals of tomorrow's
scientific activity.
-Rob
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-Robert P. Levy-
- -
A random quote...
"It is a secret both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many
things than one." -Francis Bacon
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