Subject: 
             [evol-psych] *And* Logic, Selfish and Kamikaze Memes
        Date: 
             Wed, 13 Feb 2002 12:13:52 -0800
       From: 
             "Norman K. McPhail" 
 Organization: 
             N. K. McPhail & Co.
         To: 
             "Steven D'Aprano" 
         CC: 
             [email protected]
  References: 
             1 , 2 , 3




I agree.  OR logic is inappropriate when we are considering things like
our altruistic and selfish qualities.   Fuzzy (sometimes called AND)
logic also works much better works better when considering genetic and
cultural/social influences on human activity.

I'm sure most everyone on this list is aware that Dawkins is also the
originator of the concept and word MEME.  Memes, of course, behave
somewhat like cultural genes that transmit ideas from brain to brain as
well as generation to generation.  Meme wars are just what happens when
ideas are subject to something like natural selection in the realm of
cultural ecosystems.  

It is interesting to note that memes can be both selfish and
altruistic.  There are even KAMIKAZE MEMES that can injure or kill their
host.  One such meme may even be responsible for much of the
environmental and ecosystem damage we humans have caused in the last
hundred years.  I call this the KAMIKAZE BOUNDARY MEME.

For anyone interested, I spell all this out in more detail at:
http://www.logres.net/dawn/9.html

NKM

Steven D'Aprano wrote:
> 
> Many people have expressed opinions similar to those by Herbert Gintis:
> 
> > The kicker, however is the following: "Let us try to teach
> > generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish." This is false,
> > I would argue, and certainly a non-sequitur. False, because there is
> > now ample evidence that human altruism goes well beyond what would be
> > predicted by inclusive fitness and reciprocal altruism.
> 
> Perhaps this is correct. But surely there is also ample evidence that
> humans can be horribly selfish?  Human behaviour isn't EITHER altruist
> OR selfish, but runs through a continuum between these two extremes.
> 
> If altruism/selfishness is a behavioural strategy then in principle we
> can shift the position of the ESS towards one or the other extreme
> depending on social considerations.
> 
> --
> Steven D'Aprano