As Eric said I should be quiet because this
is not my area, but I cannot resist :-)
I think these questions are interesting.
Can we (re-)construct minds from different
parts or pieces ? Is there a blueprint for
a soul (whatever that is)? If genes construct
bodies, then maybe memes construct minds.
An autobiography is maybe the thing which
is perhaps the most similar to such a
blueprint. One difference to genetic blueprints
is the temporal relationship: genetic blueprints
exist before the life of the individual, whereas
autobiographies exist only after the life of
the individual. During our life, our personality
is reinforced and we become more like ourselves.
Yet autobiographies of other people and
ancestors can be used to "build new souls".
"Holy books" are often autobiographies of
famous prophets or represent the history of
whole countries and cultures. Maybe stories,
fairy tales, myths, "holy books" and belief systems
in general (or all set of rules and ideas which specify
the right kind of behavior) can be considered
as "memetic blueprints" to build souls? Are
they the scripts which contain the rules that
direct our plays?
If a body is a 3-dimensional entity, how much
dimensions does a mind or a soul have? How many
memes are needed to "make a mind"? I would
say it depends. Maybe at least as many dimensions
as roles which a person plays. A person plays
many roles, related to nationality, language, family,
work, etc. Each role is associated with a bundle
of behavior patterns or a set of memes. Do you
agree?
By the way has anyone read "Soul Dust" from
Nicholas Humphrey http://www.humphrey.org.uk/ ?
Is it worth reading?
-J.
============================================================
FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
