Evolution suggests that there are traits which are
not selected for... one's which do not reproduce
themselves. Memetics, on the other hand, concerns
itself with only those things which MUST
replicate. The difference is in the process. It
might be explained by the terms "reproduce" and
"replicate".
"Reproduction" suggests a one to one
correspondence... that is, it cannot explain
*evolution* from one form to another ("mutation"
is proposed to account for this). What I mean is
that if a thing *reproduces* itself in an exact
copy, which is selected for or against by other
means, then the quality of reproduction does not
explain how this thing evolves (according to a
process inherent to it).
On the other hand, "replication" suggests an
ordered progression by which the superior ordering
(of a trait) might "intentionally" re-order the
inferior qualities of itself toward a more complex
arrangement. As such, "intentionality" might be
defined as "order", itself.... that is, a thing
might be said to evolve in an ORDERED fashion
which does not rely on chance negation and an
either/ or selection process.
My explanation for the ordering of memetic
"information" is that things become more complex
and their re-arrangement is such that it allows
for a better representation of heretofore
extraneous information. Thus, the introduction of
order from one "host" to another (along with the
inclusion of un-ordered information) allows for
the ordering of such information in a way which
might be said to "replicate" the ordered
information (or "meme") of the original host.
However, the above really assumes that an
objectifiable "ideo-object" is a secondary effect
of the excitation of one memesphere by the charge
of another (whose *potential* [in the "carrier"]
is contained in its capacity to supply order as
COMPARED to the disorganized state of the new
host). Thus, the charge is transmitted as a
superior criteria for organizing information, but
the meme itself (at least in its incubation phase)
is dependent on the information contained in a
disorganized state in the new host for its
"reproduction" (that is, the PATTERN of the virus
is *replicated* but the information is still the
RNA or DNA of the genetic host).
B. Lane Robertson
Indiana, USA
http://www.window.to/mindrec
Bio: http://members.theglobe.com/bretthay
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