From: "John C. 'Buck' Field" <info@fieldoperative.com>
To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
Subject: JOM
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 18:14:24 -0500
In-Reply-To: <NBBBIIDKHCMGAIPMFFPJMEBPDJAA.richard@brodietech.com>
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I have a quibble with your quibble!~
One quibble: I see no usefulness in diluting the word "meme" by
using it to refer to ALL encodings of ALL information involved in cultural
evolution.
It appears unclear whether "ALL" refers to a comprehensive set of related conditions,
or each possible conceptual granule within a cultural spectrum. If we are defining
meme as the indivisible core (or at least a very small set) of a replicating concept,
and a larger set of grouped ideas as memeplexes then the complex forms of replication
appear likely regions of memetics most useful investigations.
The analogy below illustrates this:
"Ice," for example, is an interesting word meaning water in its frozen
state.
The indivisible component of that compound (the molecule) is referred to as "water",
not ice, so a proper analogy is an objection to reference of ALL related states by
using the granular term. You very properly violate your own principle, however, with
the useful explanation of ice as frozen water. Granted, it is different than what we
normally think of as water, and thus "dilutes" the meaning of water in our mind by
including solid crystals, but it is useful, even crucial for understanding many
physical processes.
Ice melts and evaporates, or sublimates, forming water vapor, which
may rise sufficiently high to the point that it condenses and freezes, once
again forming ice.
Here again we see the usefulness of introducing the atomic term toward a more complex
understanding, just as memes are involved directly in complex and non-intuitively
recognized cultural evolution.
However, it wasn't ice during those intermediate stages
nor would it be useful to call it "encoded ice" or anything like that.
That is because "ice" is not the name we use for the basic unit of the compound in
question. Calling it frozen water is the equivalent, it is useful and proper. (Am I
beating this deceased equine and future steak enough yet?)
Similarly, although some meme transmission can be usefully seen as directly
encoded and unencoded en route from mind to mind, my suspicion is that most
of it is not so direct, that memes "precipitate" into a new mind through a
statistically predictable but chaotic process in which one individual meme
cannot really be said to be encoded in one specific behavior or artifact.
Like the water analogy, if what comes out of the chaotic interaction between the
carrier and the infected is the carrier's original meme, we can absolutely say that
at least a component or catalyst of the meme was encoded and present. In the water
analogy, we can say that any material added to a container that results in water,
this would include adding a spark (catalyst) to a tank containing hydrogen and
oxygen.
A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are for; Carpe Diem!
Field Operative Services: Database and Web Solutions
www.fieldoperative.com
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One quibble: I = see no=20 usefulness in diluting the word "meme" by
using it to refer to ALL=20 encodings of ALL information involved in=20 cultural
evolution.
It appears
The=20 analogy below illustrates this:
"Ice," for example, = is an=20 interesting word meaning water in its frozen
state. =
The=20 indivisible component of that compound (the molecule) is referred to as = "water",=20 not ice, so a proper analogy is an objection to reference of ALL related = states=20 by using the granular term. You very properly violate your = own=20 principle, however, with the useful explanation of ice as frozen=20 water. Granted, it is different than what we normally think of as = water,=20 and thus "dilutes" the meaning of water in our mind by including solid = crystals,=20 but it is useful, even crucial for understanding many physical=20 processes.
Ice melts and = evaporates, or=20 sublimates, forming water vapor, which
may rise sufficiently high = to the=20 point that it condenses and freezes, once
again forming=20 ice.
Here=20 again we see the usefulness of introducing the atomic term = toward a=20 more complex understanding, just as memes are involved directly in = complex=20 and non-intuitively recognized cultural evolution. =
However, it = wasn't ice during=20 those intermediate stages
nor would it be useful to call it = "encoded ice"=20 or anything like that.
That=20
is because "ice" is not the name we use for the basic unit of the =
compound in=20
question. Calling it frozen water is the equivalent, it is useful =
and=20
proper.
Similarly, although = some meme=20 transmission can be usefully seen as directly
encoded and unencoded = en=20 route from mind to mind, my suspicion is that most
of it is not so = direct,=20 that memes "precipitate" into a new mind through a
statistically=20 predictable but chaotic process in which one individual meme
cannot = really=20 be said to be encoded in one specific behavior or=20 artifact.
| A ship in the harbor = is safe, but=20 that's not what ships are for; Carpe = Diem! |
| Field Operative = Services: Database=20 and Web Solutions |