Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!well!moritz From: moritz@well.sf.ca.us (Elan Moritz) Newsgroups: comp.ai Subject: Re: Synthetic Life followup: Artificial Life mailing list Message-ID: <23828@well.sf.ca.us> Date: 26 Mar 91 03:18:10 GMT References: <19774@brahms.udel.edu> Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, Sausalito, CA Lines: 154 +=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=+ please post & circulate Announcement ......... Abstracts of papers appearing in Volume 2 # 1 of the Journal of Ideas THOUGHT CONTAGION AS ABSTRACT EVOLUTION Aaron Lynch Abstract: Memory abstractions, or mnemons, form the basis of a memetic evolution theory where generalized self-replicating ideas give rise to thought contagion. A framework is presented for describing mnemon propagation, combination, and competition. It is observed that the transition from individual level considerations to population level considerations can act to cancel individual variations and may result in population behaviors. Equations for population memetics are presented for the case of two-idea interactions. It is argued that creativity via innovation of ideas is a population phenomena. Keywords: mnemon, meme, evolution, replication, idea, psychology, equation. ................... CULTURE AS A SEMANTIC FRACTAL: Sociobiology and Thick Description Charles J. Lumsden Department of Medicine, University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8 Abstract: This report considers the problem of modeling culture as a thick symbolic system: a system of reference and association possessing multiple levels of meaning and interpretation. I suggest that thickness, in the sense intended by symbolic anthropologists like Geertz, can be treated mathematically by bringing together two lines of formal development, that of semantic networks, and that of fractal mathematics. The resulting semantic fractals offer many advantages for modeling human culture. The properties of semantic fractals as a class are described, and their role within sociobiology and symbolic anthropology considered. Provisional empirical evidence for the hypothesis of a semantic fractal organization for culture is discussed, together with the prospects for further testing of the fractal hypothesis. Keywords: culture, culturgen, meme, fractal, semantic network. ................... MODELING THE DISTRIBUTION OF A "MEME" IN A SIMPLE AGE DISTRIBUTION POPULATION: I. A KINETICS APPROACH AND SOME ALTERNATIVE MODELS Matthew Witten Center for High Performance Computing University of Texas System, Austin, TX 78758-4497 Abstract. Although there is a growing historical body of literature relating to the mathematical modeling of social and historical processes, little effort has been placed upon modeling the spread of an idea element "meme" in such a population. In this paper we review some of the literature and we then consider a simple kinetics approach, drawn from demography, to model the distribution of a hypothetical "meme" in a population consisting of three major age groups. KEYWORDS: Meme, idea, age-structure, compartment, sociobiology, kinetics model. ................... THE PRINCIPIA CYBERNETICA PROJECT Francis Heylighen, Cliff Joslyn, and Valentin Turchin The Principia Cybernetica Project[dagger] Abstract: This note describes an effort underway by a group of researchers to build a complete and consistent system of philosophy. The system will address, issues of general philosophical concern, including epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics, or the supreme human values. The aim of the project is to move towards conceptual unification of the relatively fragmented fields of Systems and Cybernetics through consensually-based philosophical development. Keywords: cybernetics, culture, evolution, system transition, networks, hypermedia, ethics, epistemology. ................... Brain and Mind: The Ultimate Grand Challenge Elan Moritz The Institute for Memetic Research P. O. Box 16327, Panama City, Florida 32406 Abstract: Questions about the nature of brain and mind are raised. It is argued that the fundamental understanding of the functions and operation of the brain and its relationship to mind must be regarded as the Ultimate Grand Challenge problem of science. National research initiatives such as the Decade of the Brain are discussed. Keywords: brain, mind, awareness, consciousness, computers, artificial intelligence, meme, evolution, mental health, virtual reality, cyberspace, supercomputers. +=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=+ The Journal of Ides an archival forum for discussion of 1) evolution and spread of ideas, 2) the creative process, and 3) biological and electronic implementations of idea/knowledge generation and processing. The Journal of Ideas, ISSN 1049-6335, is published quarterly by the Institute for Memetic Research, Inc. P. O. Box 16327, Panama City Florida 32406-1327. >----------- FOR MORE INFORMATION -------> E-mail requests to Elan Moritz, Editor, at moritz@well.sf.ca.us. +=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=++=+