RayHiggins <RayHiggins@aol.com> wrote:
> I ask this because for about 2/3 years now I've been reading
> this mailing list (off and on); trying to reconcile theories
> I came with those of the group (and hopefully memetic theory
> in general) and I am confused.
I feel the same way about this group. In a much as "meme" means anything
around here, it seems to stand as a synonim for "idea"... I've been quoting
the literature, and correcting people, but really, I haven't made any
impact... You are right when you say:
> It really looks like memetics as used by this group is just
> another rationalization tool for developing a Philosophy (be
> aware I define Philosophy as the "Art of Making an External
> Justification of Internal Memes into a More Virulent Form")
But such is life, you know -- we all want to justify what we hold as true.
In my opinion, the meme meme (and I do think that you could classify the
concept of a meme AS a meme) itself, while useful for some things, has led
to a decline in peoples ability to think rationally about other's ideas --
the just lump all the things they don't like into this "meme" category, and
that explains it... no need to go hunting for any other reasons why people
might wish to hold those ideas. It is a devil of a trap, and I fall into
it sometimes too.
So, todays lesson: even if it is a meme, don't stop analysing it! There is
still much to learn!
ERiC