Re: virus: Rationality

Alex Williams (thantos@decatl.alf.dec.com)
Mon, 24 Feb 1997 19:24:35 -0500 (EST)


> Those animals, /those animals' nervous systems/, aren't rational. Their
> behaviour LOOKS rational, looks reasoned, looks as though it could have been
> logically decided on. But I don't think it is.

I believe I disagree that behaviour has to arise from a logical,
rational process for it to be `rational behaviour.' As long as it
conforms to the /observers'/ pre-generated expectation tolerance
within certain parameters, it can quite easily /be/ rational.

In short, things appear "rational" if we can /rationalize/ them,
without any internal necessities on the observed's part. This, of
course, goes along with my Heretical thoughts that memes can't be
transmitted, they can only be borne in the mind from stimuli patterns
from without.