Subject: the cargo of the cult
Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 09:00:45 -0400
From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
On 8/27/99 08:14, Robin Faichney said this-
>there is probably sufficient
>information in the toaster itself not only to allow the construction of
>an unlimited number of similar toasters,
Yes, this forensic data is part of the object as an object of manufacture
(assuming a culture capable of such technology....) Likewise there is
molecular information as part of its physical presence.
This is not, I think, what we are talking about.
This is what we are talking about-
>The fact that the information is only available under
>certain circumstances does not mean that it is not there.
And I disagree with you. Other than forensic information, I see no reason
to assume there is any cultural information without the culture to see
it. Like I said, in the culture of the cargo cult, there is no
information other than religious totem to a toaster. Those 'certain
circumstances' are the entirety of cultural information.
Yes, no?
- Wade
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