Re: virus: Faith, Logic and Purpose

Marie Foster (mfos@ieway.com)
Thu, 20 Nov 1997 12:10:16 -0800


David McFadzean wrote:

> >If we can not get beyond this first erroneous meme, I contend we will
> >never move as a species to a new evolutionary level.
>
> If it wasn't for this "erroneous meme" as you call it, we would still
> be animals by today's standards. Personally I see culture as our
> greatest creation.
> --

I sort of feel that it was a necessary step that we needed to take that
led to identity. But identity that obliterates our connection is not
healthy. Identity and personality are real. It is the ego that clings
to autonomy that I have trouble with.

I like your statement that the "I" meme was not the first. I maintain a
romantic attachment to that conclusion as it *fits* the context I have
built for myself. However, I would be interested in your thinking on
what might have been the first meme.

I have been reading some of the current discoveries in biology that tend
to put a bender on evolution. There has been a recent study of how
fungus promotes the well being of different species of trees... even
ones that the fungus does not really benefit from directly.

I have always had trouble with the idea that evolution is mostly
competitive. (My distaff self muses that this may be a male
construct... ) :0)

If one really looks at animal communities they see much more cooperation
than competition. I also feel that ego and autonomy contribute to this
view on the *how* of evolution.

I am not climbing up on a high horse here... My neurons lead and I
follow humbly along.

Marie