From csus.edu!wupost!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!network.ucsd.edu!lumina.ucsd.edu!mcpherso Tue Jul 13 09:02:32 1993 Path: csus.edu!wupost!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!network.ucsd.edu!lumina.ucsd.edu!mcpherso From: mcpherso@lumina.ucsd.edu (John McPherson) Newsgroups: alt.memetics Subject: Gene/Meme cognates Date: 9 Jul 1993 07:40:30 GMT Organization: Spontaneous Lines: 87 Message-ID: <21j7dfINNeub@network.ucsd.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: lumina.ucsd.edu In the style of Stanislaw Lem, I offer a list of gene/meme cognate pairs: gene: unit of hereditary transmission. [gen: to create, beget, originate] meme: unit of cultural transmission. [mem: to be communicated and stored] ==================================== gene-pool: a whole body of genes in a given population (generation). meme-pool: a whole body of memes in a given population (memeration). --------- gene-complex: an inter-related cluster of genes (eg, carnivore traits). meme-complex: an inter-related cluster of memes (eg, a particular religion). ------------ genetics: the science/study of genes, their changes and effects. [geneticist] memetics: the science/study of memes, their changes and effects. [memeticist] -------- genetic evolution: the historical change/re-organization of genes. memetic evolution: the historical change/re-organization of memes. ------------------ genetic engineering: the design of an organism by alteration of genes. memetic engineering: the design & spread of an ideology by alteration of memes ------------------- genotype: genetic constitution of an individual or group. memotype: memetic constitution of an individual or group. -------- genocide: the systematic killing of an entire race. memocide: the eradication of an entire class of ideas, or of their spread. -------- genealogy/genealogical tree: a record of the genetic history of a person/family memealogy/memealogical tree: a record of the memetic history of an idea. ---------------------------- genealogist: one who makes such records. memealogist: " ----------- generation: a set of contemporary entities within a population. memeration: a set of contemporary ideas within a population? ----------- genius: an originator of ideas. [meta-genius: an originator of geniuses!] memius: an effective spreader of ideas. ------ (pro)genitor: parent of a child. (pro)memitor: "parent" of a powerful idea. ------------- genus/genera: a category/class of entities. memus/memera: a category/class of ideas or communication techniques. ------------ genre: a style or general type of entity. memre: a style or general type of idea or communication. ------ generic: a typical member of a class of entities. memeric: a typical member of a class of ideas. -------- generatrix: a geometrical entity whose motion produces a more complex entity. memeratrix: a key idea whose "motion" generates a string of other ideas. ---------- (co/re)generate: to bring entities into existence. (co/re)memerate: to bring ideas into existence, and/or to spread them. --------------- generator: a creator of entities. memerator: a creator or spreader of ideas. ---------- genesis: the moment of beginning. memesis: the moment of spreading. ------- genitals/genitalia: the organs of biological reproduction. memitals/memitalia: the brain-complex :-) --------- -genic: "producing" suffix -memic: "communicating" suffix ------- eugenics: the theory/practice of improving heriditary qualities of a race. eumemics: the theory/practice of improving cultural qualities of a race. --------- (con)genial: cheerful, friendly, pleasant, comfortable environ for life. (con)memial: cheerful, friendly, pleasant, comfortable environ for ideas. :-) ------------ Eugene: a proper name ("Good/True Maker"?) [Eugenio] Eumeme: a new proper name ("Good/True Communicator"? :-) [Eumemio] ------- The same game could be played in reverse to some extent, eg: ----- memory: a place where memes are stored (in the brain). genory: a place where genes are stored (in cell nuclei). ------- Any additions, modifications, elaborations, comments, etc.? John McPherson (mcpherso@lumina.ucsd.edu) From csus.edu!wupost!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!network.ucsd.edu!lumina.ucsd.edu!mcpherso Tue Jul 13 09:03:58 1993 Path: csus.edu!wupost!howland.reston.ans.net!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!network.ucsd.edu!lumina.ucsd.edu!mcpherso From: mcpherso@lumina.ucsd.edu (John McPherson) Newsgroups: alt.memetics Subject: Re: Gene/Meme cognates Date: 10 Jul 1993 10:37:49 GMT Organization: Spontaneous Lines: 83 Message-ID: <21m65tINN3pk@network.ucsd.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: lumina.ucsd.edu Davin Yap writes: | Not fair! Not fair!! You took too many! | It's slim pickings for the rest of us now. Oh, sorry! Here, you can have these: -------- progeny: offspring "produced" by a parent or ancestor (progenitor). promemy: ideas (created and) spread by a promulgator (or promemitor). -------- genetic algorithms: a programming technique where one creates a variety of artificial lifeforms in an artificial environment, turns them loose, and natural selection does the rest. memetic algorithms: a meta-programming technique where one creates a variety of memes, spreads them into the populace, and see which ones are "selected". :-) [aka, government propaganda, advertising, etc.] ------------------- generosity: freely giving of gifts in a benevolent manner. memerosity: freely giving of catchy ideas in a benevolent manner. ----------- Oops! I did it again, didn't I? Well, at least I didn't mention: ------------- allergen(ic): a substance that induces allergy (exaggerated or abnormal reactions). allermem(ic): an idea that induces exaggerated or abnormal psychological reactions (allermy? ;-), such as fear, nausea, suspicion, etc. ------------- antigen(ic): a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies. antimem(ic): an idea that stimulates the spread of counter-memes. ------------ hallucinogen(ic): a substance that induces hallucinations (objects or feelings having no cause outside one's own mind). hallucinomem(ic): an idea that induces hallucinations (eg, mass hypnosis, visitations of the Virgin Mary or UFOs, etc.) ----------------- psychogenic: originating in the mind, such as psychosomatic symptoms. psychomemic: spreading from mind to mind. ------------ Oh dear, I don't seem to be able to stop myself ... ----------- cryogenics: the study of the production and effects of very low temperatures. cryomemics: the study of the spread of ideas about cryo-phenomena. ----------- thermogenic: heat producing. thermomemic: producing of heated ideas; flame-baiting ;-) ------------ Help! Help! I've been infected by the "meme" meme! I didn't meme to do it! Honest! ----------- neogenesis: the generation of the new. neomemesis: the memeration (ie, spreading) of new ideas. ----------- oogenesis: the formation (and maturation) of eggs. oomemesis: the spreading of fertile ideas, especially of conditions that allow certain ideas to develop in the minds of others "spontaneously". ---------- spermatogenesis: the creation of sperm cells. spermatomemesis: the ...uh... spreading of sperm cells?! 8-O ---------------- Okaaay, with _that_, I'd better get on with the rest of the post! (before I take _all_ of the entries!) | Talk about selfishness! I grate my teeth at you, you who would claim | so many places in the Oxford English Dictionary! Hmmm ...that reminds me ... you don't happen to have the contact address of the OED Committee on Neologisms, do you? :-) | "Within each of us there are aspects of ourselves which we cloister | away from scrutiny. Among these, motives tend to be the least flattering." To be truthful, although I _am_ a thoroughly selfish human being, I wasn't trying to be greedy ... I was merely letting flow my sheer creative memius ... Promemeus Unbound as it were ... John MemePherson, memeticist wannabe with special interest in memealogy.