From: BMSDGATH <BMSDGATH@livjm.ac.uk>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: cloak paper
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 09:54:20 -0500 (EST)
Cloak slips another definition into the paper. It's hidden in
footnote 57 on page 165.
"The meme, in short, is a scientific _construct_ [Cloak's italics], a
useful demarcation of some neural mechanisms, not an empriical
'elementary particle' like a neuron; it will survive if and only if it
proves useful for explaining the immense body of existing and future
ehtnographic observations and the valid insights and generalisations
that have been inferred therefrom."
I'd say that if is is going to be a 'demarcation of some neural
mechanisms' then it has already failed his own criteria for survival,
because it simply hasn't proved useful for doing the things he wants it
to do.
But if it's a 'useful demarcation of some [variable, imitated and
selected behaviour]', then we have a chance.
Derek
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit