Eric, I really think you're taking this whole memetics thing too seriously. It's like people who want to pass their hand through a solid wall because they know that physics tells them it's mostly empty space. There's a real wall, and there's a real consciousness.
Richard Brodie richard@brodietech.com
Author, "Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme"
Free newsletter! http://www.brodietech.com/rbrodie/meme.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-virus@lucifer.com [mailto:owner-virus@lucifer.com]On Behalf
Of Eric Boyd
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 1999 6:21 AM
To: virus@lucifer.com
Subject: Re: virus: FAQ: question (a) - Level 3
Hi,
David McFadzean <morpheus@lucifer.com> writes:
<<
It's even worse than that, David. If Blackmore is right and
'consciousness' or 'the self' is an illusion (a story we tell
ourselves because it benefits our memes) then level 3 is nothing less
than complete self deception -- it is taking the memes which create
This seems to imply that the purpose is somehow separate from all
memes. Does the idea of Level 3 depend on this assumption? What if
purpose can be chosen consciously and/or transmitted memetically?
Where would that leave Level 3?
>>
Blackmore's own solution -- to let the self go -- is, of course, no better; but at least it's honest. (and my understanding would be that it's an easier path to happiness, although it's unlikely to yield 'success', however you might define that)
ERiC