Message-Id: <3.0.1.32.19990520135608.00c6cc14@popmail.mcs.net>
Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 13:56:08 -0500
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
From: Aaron Lynch <aaron@mcs.net>
Subject: Re: Fw: astrology-talk behaviour
In-Reply-To: <000c01bea2cc$ed4988c0$1f6345c2@paul>
At 04:27 PM 5/20/99 +0200, Paul Marsden wrote:
>
>
>>>'Talkativity' as such is surely a behavioural strategy module, and one
>>which
>>>has rich inclusive fitness rewards. 'Talk astrology' is cultural rather
>>>than genetic, yes, but it would also have to have a modularity to it, in
>>>order for selection (cultural in this case rather than natural) to get
>some
>>>purchase on it.
>>
>>>In short, 'astrology talkers' would require to be more successful than
>'any
>>>subject talkers', and they'd have to be imitated.
>>
>>Yes - and hold onto me as I lean over the Lynchian precipice - this is
>where
>>Durham's Primary (sociobiological "attractors" to use Sperber's language)
>>and Secondary (sociocultural) values may be useful. If phenotypic
>>plasticity allows for the local fixing of behavioural goals, biased of
>>course by a logic inclusive fitness enhancement, then information relevant
>>to these locally fixed sociocultural secondary goals is likely to be
>>appropriated. Therefore semantic continuity/relevance may be a good
>>*heuristic*, or at least better than folk psychology for predicting the
>>success and consequent selection of astrology talkers. (Rescue
>>meeee.............)
>>
>>Paul
Greetings, Paul. I was wondering when you might "drop in." Here are your
horns. Down here, we all wear horns on our heads. It's a cultural thing...
--Aaron Lynch
http://www.mcs.net/~aaron/thoughtcontagion.html
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