RE: virus: Together or Not

Wade T.Smith (wade_smith@harvard.edu)
Thu, 27 Nov 97 11:01:08 -0500


><Consciousness> is obviously a meme.

Well, within our local lexicon, yes, putting anything within '<>' makes
it a meme. (Or makes us start to think of it as one.)

But I am not convinced Consciousness is a meme. Far from it. From this
vantage point, it seems to be an evolutionary development of neural
tissues, with neural complexity being a determinant.

As it is only a part of the set of necessary and sufficient conditions
for cultural action, it is not a meme by my presently operating
definition.

It is one of the necessary prerequisites for a culture, though, IMO. I am
unwilling, so far, to place a culture outside the boundaries of
consciousness.

This may appear to be a hidebound attitude to some, if not to me.

*****************
Wade T. Smith
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