3 ms·
“God” == God
- danboarder 13y agoThis idea that viral ideas are like cultural software running in society that result in real-world results (like cathedrals and other infrastructure) is a brilliant observation and I would suggest it applies similarly to other perhaps less viral ideas that grow into institutions, governments, and other social constructs. I'm not a sociologist or anthropologist but I would like to hear one of either provide input on this topic.
- xenophonf 13y agoThat's exactly what a meme is.
- danboarder 13y agoAre you saying a meme can result in real-world creations cathedrals and other infrastructure? I think I see what you're getting at in that they are related as far as cultural virality goes. However my understanding of a meme is a flash-in-the-pan viral idea that gets '15 minutes of internet fame' and then people forget about it.
- writtles 13y agoValue Memes ala Spiral Dynamics are probably more applicable here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Dynamics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Dynamics
- panarky 13y agoI like the quote at the top of the page: “A philosopher...is a sort of intellectual yokel who gapes and stares at what sensible people take for granted.” – Alan Watts I'm not a philosopher, but I find myself gaping and staring at common things like money and colors, astounded that they seem so concrete yet only exist as a figment of our collective imagination.