X-Message-Number: 28429
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:20:04 -0600
From: "Anthony ." <>
Subject: ettinger and memes
References: <>

> X-Message-Number: 28411
> From: 
> Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2006 10:33:13 EDT
> Subject: memes

> Daniel Gilbert's .. talks about
> "super-replicators"--beliefs that have properties that facilitate their own
> transmission, and
> are transmitted powerfully through evolution.

Social evolution, biological evolution - or are they both the same
according to Gilbert? If Gilbert is not a social Darwinist, then what
"selection pressures" contribute to the "evolution" of society?

I don't deny that some ideas are more appealling than others, but this
is a matter for psychology, not "memetics".

> For example, the urge to build, produce, and consume tends to produce  strong
> economies, hence strong societies, hence surviving individuals.

"Urge"? You mean, some people are motivated to work hard as a part of
a "Protestant work-ethic" to impress God, while others are motivated
to work hard because the Koran emphasises exercising ones skill and
enjoying the fruits of labour, while still others have other reasons?

Does that mean that the North American Protestant work-ethic is the
best "meme" as evidenced by U.S. super-power status?

Not only is that too convenient for the budding social Darwinist, but
it ignores all the other factors (uh, memes) as to why a country may
"produce strong economies, hence strong societies, hence surviving
individuals."

> So even  rich
> people tend to think that more money will make them happier, even if it
> won't.

Only in certain societies at certain times. Western money began life
as a sacred gold token you could take with you out of a temple for
protection - with that sort of history, no-one our attitudes to money
approach reverence.

In contrast, in "primitive" cultures, the person with the most may
give virtually all of it away in a potlach or some other ritual -
though they will be compensated by great respect and prestige.

Anthony

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