3 ms·
I mostly buy this and see the problem. I wonder though if the "marketplace of ideas" will become a naive notion. If the memetic success of an idea becomes total
by moultano 10y ago
I mostly buy this and see the problem. I wonder though if the "marketplace of ideas" will become a naive notion. If the memetic success of an idea becomes totally uncoupled from its truth or virtue, then evolution will not select memes that benefit us. We are exposed to way more high fitness memes than ever before, and I'm not sure we are capable of effectively resisting them. We are becoming unwitting hosts.
In a world of weaponized memes, the battlegrounds may be entirely in controlling their exposure and thus their R0.
- lucio 10y agoThe success of ideas having real-world impact, are never uncoupled from reality. Memes, as Genes, impact the real world, so Reality and Reason can determine fitness.
- moultano 10y agoMaybe, but I worry that we are now exposed to more memes than lived experiences, so their power to overcome reality is increased. People have extremely strong opinions about things they have no first hand exposure to. I worry that the increase in polarization is simply people having opinions about more things. If that's the cause, I don't see a way back.