>Memetic Axioms:
>1) evolution is the non random selection of randomly varying replicators.
>(Dawkins)
>2) the world of language, knowledge and belief in [a] human mind[s]
>provides an evolutationary environment; a meme is the simplest
>evolutationary unit operating in said environment.
etc.
This is what I've been talking about, that there is a definite meme-plex
found in systems like the CoV. (unlike what Prof.Tim tries to imply). Even
arguments within this system lead to conclusions that are characteristic of
the system and not outside of it. For instance, the argument about whether
you can objectively understand subjective experience tends to reach a
general conclusion that if you start out favoring objectivity, you end up
favoring subjectivity and vice versa. The CoV has reached an evolutionary
dead end--a memetic impasse. CoV memes are like the genes of Amish people
who only breed with people of their own clan since they reject the outside
society (just like we don't like meme-plexes from traditional sources). No
new genes enter their gene-pool except via mutation. Unless we run into a
more competitive meme-plex, we'd have to use lateral thinking to generate
memetic mutations that are more fit than the memes we have. Simply gaining
new knowledge (by reading books) or focusing on removing negatives (like
other meme-plexes) won't do..
--David R.