RE: virus: Memetical Axioms

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Wed, 24 Sep 1997 13:55:30 +0100


> From: David McFadzean[SMTP:david@lucifer.com]
>
> At 09:45 AM 9/23/97 +0100, Robin Faichney wrote:
>
> >... What's genetically inherited forms a highly
> >significant part of the landscape in which memes survive,
> >or fail to do so.
>
> OK, I think I understand now. I lost sight of the fact that
> memes are not inherited (by definition). Genes create something
> that operates at the same level as memes, but they don't have
> a name.
>
I guess we're talking physiology here, or at least physiological
influences on behaviour. Or the influence of structure on
function. I think the emotions constitute a good example of
this kind of thing. The emotional appeal of memes is often a
highly significant feature in accounting for their success.

Robin