From: "Richard Brodie" <richard@brodietech.com>
To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Subject: RE: Re(2): Paper on chimp culture
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 06:59:28 -0700
In-Reply-To: <B0003930555@hamextw01.htcomp.net>
Mark wrote:
<<If I look at the 'rapidly changing world' notion, there seems to be two
choices for the source of change: human activity and environmental
activity.>>
In the time frame you're discussing (and that I think Plotkin addresses)
human activity would be a non-issue. Catastrophic environmental change,
change in environments caused by migratory behavior, and the waxing and
waning of predator and prey populations would be sources of change.
<<Note that bonobos are smarter than common chimps. Their culture is female
dominated. Additionally, bonobos are masters at solving inter-personal
problems via sex. According to my model, this cultural style would enhance
cognitive advantage because symbolic interaction subdues brute force. >>
But we're smarter than bonobos and masters of CREATING interpersonal
problems via sex. Just goes to show you, I guess.
Richard Brodie richard@brodietech.com
Author, "Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme"
Free newsletter! http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
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