RE: virus: Virus-supportive Psychology

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Fri, 10 Oct 1997 13:39:35 +0100


> cmcclellan@gzinc.com[SMTP:cmcclellan@gzinc.com]
>
> What is it about human psychology that encourages the proliferation
> and
> transmission of viruses? How can one make use of such knowledge to
> create
> better meme-complexes which will have a high probability of not only
> spreading, but of being able to counter limiting/destructive memes?
>
How many words are we allowed? :-)

> Would someone take a moment to explain "levels" terminology or refer
> me to
> source?
>
I'd be interested in a good source on this too. But it's
very much taken forgranted in philosophy and elsewhere.
Very briefly: molecules are just atoms in particular
configurations. So to talk about atoms is to use one
level of description or explanation, and to talk about
molecules is to use another. Similarly, to talk about
the behaviour of individuals, and about trends within
a given society, is to use different levels.

Robin