My hypothesis is that it’s saying that people are vehicles for their memes in the same way they are vehicles for their genes. Ideas “use” people to propagate themselves.
It touches on the fundamental question of rationality: Why am I doing what I’m doing?
Dennet is saying: at the end of all the scholarship you have in effect just become a wandering library. So what? Is this really the most important or valuable thing you could have done with your time? It’s the danger of losing the big picture of what is your real purpose in life, what is the most important thing you should be doing? How probable is it that for so many people studying for long years it the most effective use of their time?
Daniel Dennett
Forgive me if I’m being dense, but… witty as it is, why is this a rationality quote?
My hypothesis is that it’s saying that people are vehicles for their memes in the same way they are vehicles for their genes. Ideas “use” people to propagate themselves.
Well yes, I know that much. Is there a rationality-related moral to it? Or is it just that people here like memetics?
Your hypothesis is of course correct.
It touches on the fundamental question of rationality: Why am I doing what I’m doing? Dennet is saying: at the end of all the scholarship you have in effect just become a wandering library. So what? Is this really the most important or valuable thing you could have done with your time? It’s the danger of losing the big picture of what is your real purpose in life, what is the most important thing you should be doing? How probable is it that for so many people studying for long years it the most effective use of their time?
Very true.