Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 09:39:14 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: RE: i-memes and m-memes
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Derek:
How will you know an i-meme when you see one?
James McComb:
I am not a behaviorist. I am happy to create theoretical entities, provided
they have explanatory power and are indirectly testable.
Derek:
But do they:
a) have explanatory power? The biggest problem with the Dawkins B
definition is that it doesn't because it equates hosting the meme with
manisfestation of the behaviour that the meme is supposed to neurally
encode. This is circular, and thus lacks explanatory power.
b) permit even indirect testing? If you can suggest an indirect test, I'd
be very interested.
I know you said you didn't want to start this debate again, but if you can
solve the above 2 objections, that would be a considerable contribution to
the world of memetics.
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