Re: virus:"stupid" laws

sodom (Sodom@ma.ultranet.com)
Mon, 19 Oct 1998 16:00:16 -0400


Just out of curiosity, why should memetic viewpoint be fairly free of moral
judjements? I mean, most of us definately have a moral viewpoint or as we say
"Virian Virtues". If our virtues are to be guideposts of moral thought for the
church, then these morals will certainly have an effect on our viewpoint about
laws. You are very right though that the "laws" themselves should be free of
moral judgements. We can all pretty much agree that homicide is bad in almost
all situations. I think that the "should and shouldnt"of laws, should be based
on very simple and easy to understand concepts - much like the bill of rights. I
feel that if our Virian Virtues led to the laws of our country, then the laws
would most likely exclude a great deal of what is consided illegal in the US
today. We are generally a much more liberal group than what is in power at the
moment.

in short:

1: from MG "a memetic viewpoint on laws would be fairly free of moral
judgements about behaviour" I agree, it should.
2: I think most memeticists would look at laws as only a reflection on the
current or recent dominant memetic structures - currently Christianity. Not
"should or shouldn't"
3: I would agree with your last statement completely: "seeing a group's
morality as a complex of ideas dominant in their meme pool"

Bill Roh
Sodom

Martin Glover wrote:

> Looking at eric boyd's post (may've been someone else's originally) about
> laws against people damaging themselves, i was struck that the post was
> phrased in terms that sounded quite moralistic to me: what people OUGHT or
> OUGHT NOT to be allowed to do.
>
> I would've thought a memetic viewpoint on laws would be fairly free of moral
> judgements about behaviour (including making laws etc), but rather phrased
> in terms of questions like "why are these ideas more widespread than their
> opposites?"
>
> I'm not trying to police the list, but it interests me as to whether
> memeticists genuinely see laws as a matter of "should and shouldn't". The
> complimentary standpoint might be something like seeing a group's morality
> as a complex of ideas dominant in their meme pool.
>
> Is there a concensus on the list about that?
>
> Cheers
>
> MG