Today's Topics:
Life imitates prank
SubGenius Digest #413
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Message-ID: <19900402182246.7.MT@OUROBOROS.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 90 14:22 EDT
From: Michael Travers <mt@media-lab.media.mit.edu>
To: subgenius@mc.lcs.mit.edu
Subject: Life imitates prank
I started the Journal of Memetics as a semi-prank and never got around
to actually producing an issue. Now that someone has done more or less
the same thing for real, I guess I will cease non-publication. People
who sent money for an issue will get a refund.
Rev. Ped.
Date: Sun, 1 Apr 90 23:07 EDT
From: Elan Moritz <71620.3203@CompuServe.COM>
Subject: Call for Papers
please post and distribute to investigators of:
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* human and machine intelligence
* knowledge systems
* computational linguistics
* natural languages
* theoretical biology
* population genetics
* ethology / cultural ecology
* information storage and transfer
* learning and teaching systems
* philosophy of knowledge
* philosophy and history of science
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NEW JOURNAL ANNOUNCEMENT
&
CALL FOR PAPERS
......................
. .
. JOURNAL of IDEAS .
......................
IMR, BOX 16327, PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA 32406, USA
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The Institute for Memetic Research [IMR] is publishing a new journal
called 'Journal of Ideas'. The main purpose of the journal is to provide an
archival forum for discussion of the genesis, evolution, competition and death
of 'ideas' and 'memes'. The term 'idea' is one that requires careful
discussion. The original term 'meme' [pronounced: meem] is a conceptual
construct introduced by Richard Dawkins to describe units of cultural
transmission and imitation. IMR uses the term 'meme' as a point of departure
for an area we call 'Memetic Science'. Ultimately, 'meme' requires further
definition and clarification. The primary thesis of Memetic Science is that
'ideas' and 'memes' are entities that are functionally similar to biological
genes in their ability to replicate, mutate, and undergo natural selection.
What are sought in Memetic Science are: rigorous quantitative foundations,
theory, and experimental methodology and measurements.
The history of the study of 'ideas'-as-entities-by-themselves is ancient.
philosophers, we have a variety of qualitative theories and speculations.
Logic theory, philology, modern linguistics, and computer oriented
technologies, have provided a start in the area of understanding structures,
grammars, and truth conditions of sentences and small collections of
sentences. Population geneticists and biologists have provided initial models
for spread of 'cultural' constructs. These models incorporate the techniques
of dominant/recessive allele spreading in genetic pools and epidemiological
approaches. Some models use compound constructs of 'gene + culture' elements
as the particulate elements that replicate and propagate. While the
contributions from these diverse disciplines are useful, there are needs for
systematic, robust and, most importantly, quantitative approaches.
Present day applications of Memetic Science include both human aspects
of replication, mutation, competition, spread and death of ideas and memes, as
well as their electronic analogs. The 'electronic memes' are beneficial
messages, reusable subroutines, programs that are freely [or surreptitiously]
copied and modified, computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, etc.
To address the needs stated above the Institute for Memetic Research
is launching the Journal of Ideas (first issue printing, September 1990).
The detailed statement of scope, pivotal references, subscription information,
and instruction for authors is available upon written request from:
Elan Moritz, Editor
Journal of Ideas
The Institute for Memetic Research
Box 16327
Panama City, Florida 32406, USA
email address: INTERNET: 71620.3203@compuserve.com
or INET: 71620.3203@compuserve.com
The Journal of Ideas will appear [initially] quarterly, and will
contain the following reqular sections:
1) Invited papers, 2) Research Contributions, 3) Rapid Publications
and 4) Discussion of persistence and spread of existing 'Major Ideas'.
Only previously unpublished papers will be accepted.
Page charges for invited papers will be waived.
Brevity, and jargon accessible to interdisciplinary researchers are encouraged.
Standard transfer of copyrights is required prior to printing.
To encourage participation and discussion of this new area, IMR/JoI will
experiment with two categories of papers. One category will be strictly
reviewed and refereed, while another will be reviewed by the editor but not
refereed. Non-refereed papers will be so marked; they will have the advantages
of rapid publication and possible disadvantages of archival of errors.
To expedite processing, authors can immediately submit papers prepared
according to a standard professional society [e.g. IEEE, AIP, APS] journal
manuscript format. Three copies are required. On an experimental basis, authors
who would like to submit papers for rapid publication using email may submit
papers using the internet address [INTERNET: 71620.3203@compuserve.com]. These
papers should consist of ASCII text only, with equations built up carefully
using ASCII text. Papers submitted through email should be followed up by
submitting a written version via regular postal channels.
Readers of this message are encouraged to suggest topics and individuals
[including themselves] to be considered for invited papers.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PLEASE POST: CALL FOR PAPERS
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Message-ID: <9004030524.AA28878@psyche.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 90 01:24:53 EDT
From: Michael Turyn <mturyn@psyche.mit.edu>
To: SubGenius%MC.LCS.MIT.EDU@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu
Subject: Re: SubGenius Digest #413
``Think of it as devolution in action.''
(The above is the SubG equivalent of
``Return him for --ah-- regrooving.'')
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End of SubGenius Digest
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