it seems important to point out that replicators separate from a context of variation and selection are unimportant and uninteresting. memes and genes both fit these requirements, while most computer viruses do not.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-extropians@extropy.com
[mailto:owner-extropians@extropy.com]On Behalf Of Ken Clements
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 1999 5:50 PM
To: extropians@extropy.com
Subject: Re: MEMES: and things.
I think the third kind of replicator is any self propagating pattern in an
artificial context that does not require any human neurons. The computer
virus
fits in this class. If humans are not required to support the context (Gray
Goo) then I would put it in class four. If androids dream of electric
sheep,
they may be in yet another.
-Ken
Anders Sandberg wrote:
> EvMick@aol.com writes:
>
> > Humans have two kinds of replicators working on them unlike every other
> > biological known. Consequently this explains why humanity is so
ascendent
> > over everything else.
>
> To continue the series: what would it be to have *three* kinds of
> replicators?
>
> Genes, memes and... ?
>
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension!
> asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~asa/
> GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y