From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Sun Jan 06 2002 - 08:52:59 MST
From: "Forrest Bishop" <forrestb@ix.netcom.com>
> Dialetical Materialism and Marxism are notorious examples of thoroughly
refuted toxic meme-complexes that refuse to dry up and blow
> away. They cross-breed and resurge in the doctrines of Fabianism,
Communitarianism, Social Democracy, (the original name of the
> Bolsheviks/Mensheviks, btw), Keynesianism, Neoconservatism, and so forth.
Thus, we look for an underlying explanation for the
> persistence of these dynamical structures.
Yes, why people fall for these dynamical structures, or belief systems, would
be useful to know. Apparently people don't like to be shown the error of their
thinking, so even though toxic ideas are refuted, people go on believing in
them. A machine that could accurately identify incorrect thinking would
probably be banned. Such an intelligent system would definitely be unpopular.
Even neo-luddites on this list have expressed hostility toward such
technology.
--- --- --- --- ---
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment, malevolent AI,
non-sensory experience, SETI
We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
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