Re: virus: Lateral thinking (was:More virian propositions)

sodom (Sodom@ma.ultranet.com)
Wed, 07 Oct 1998 10:06:17 -0400


David Rosdeitcher wrote:

> This is what I've been talking about, that there is a definite meme-plex
> found in systems like the CoV. (unlike what Prof.Tim tries to imply). Even
> arguments within this system lead to conclusions that are characteristic of
> the system and not outside of it.

Maybe I am a bit simple, but isn't this the only possible scenario? I dont
remember ever hearing an argument that was outside of the "system" in which it
exists. Isn't that the nature of all type of thought, expression, logic.
Hopefully our system is not static, but is constantly shrinking and expanding
like some huge memetic accordian. Saying we can understand subjectivity through
objectivity, is not the same as saying we can experience subjectivity through
objectivity.

What I would like to see, so that I may understand you better, is an example
somewhere that I can examine. Something outside of the sales pitch "thinking
outside the box" (which only means they started thinking in a really tiny box).
There is somthing I am missing, an experience or an idea, or a concept that
keeps me from seeing the CoV system as really any different from any other
system. Are there systems in effect that are not limited by their own
definition?

> For instance, the argument about whether
> you can objectively understand subjective experience tends to reach a
> general conclusion that if you start out favoring objectivity, you end up
> favoring subjectivity and vice versa. The CoV has reached an evolutionary
> dead end--a memetic impasse. CoV memes are like the genes of Amish people
> who only breed with people of their own clan since they reject the outside
> society (just like we don't like meme-plexes from traditional sources). No
> new genes enter their gene-pool except via mutation. Unless we run into a
> more competitive meme-plex, we'd have to use lateral thinking to generate
> memetic mutations that are more fit than the memes we have. Simply gaining
> new knowledge (by reading books) or focusing on removing negatives (like
> other meme-plexes) won't do..
>
> --David R.

Sodom
Bill Roh