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PSYCOLOQUY   ISSN 1055-0143     Tue, 25 Jun 91       Volume 2 : Issue   6
      ARL to Produce Directory of Electronic Publications
      J. of Ideas, Vol 2  #1 Abstracts
      New Book: Cultural Approaches to Parenting
      Society  for  Machines and Mentality

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From: Michael Strangelove <441495%UOTTAWA@acadvm1.uottawa.ca>
Subject: ARL to Produce Directory of Electronic Publications

ARL to Produce Directory of Electronic Publications

As part of its keen commitment to promote networked academic journals
and other serials, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) plans to
publish a directory of electronic journals, newsletters, and scholarly
discussion lists/interest groups. These represent publications which
are created and distributed principally for Bitnet, Internet, and any
affiliated academic networks, largely for free.

The directory will be available at the end of June. It will contain
some 30 journal listings, about twice that number of newsletters, and
over 1000 scholarly lists. Its length is anticipated to be close to 200
pages. Preliminary pricing estimates are approximately $10 - $12  to
members and double that for non-members. A final price and release date
will be advertised in early June.

Editor of the journals/newsletters section is Michael Strangelove,
University of Ottawa. Strangelove's list will be available through the
Ottawa University node sometime in June. Editor of the scholarly
discussion lists/interest groups section is Diane Kovacs, Kent State
University Libraries. For some months, she has maintained such listings
as adjunct files to networked lists such as HUMANIST, ARACHNET, Lstown,
and Libref-L. Each electronic "serial" will be described and clear
directions about how to subscribe, send submissions, and access
retrospectively will be provided. To ensure that the reader is given
accurate and up-to-date information, entries have been supplied or
verified by the editors themselves. The listings are compiled with the
intention of providing the uninitiated networker with clear directions
on how to navigate the sometimes puzzling world of electronic
scholarship.

ARL is producing the printed directory because of calls virtually daily
requesting such information. If there is indeed sufficient demand for
the work, the directories will be updated and sold regularly. For those
who prefer to retrieve electronically, the directory will point to the
free and continuously up-to-date networked sources for this
information, with complete access instructions.

The ARL is tentatively exploring options for funding to
catalog/classify these materials, both to facilitate networked and
paper access by subject and to "institutionalize" and "legitimize" new
types of "serials." This effort would relate to activities of the
Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) in identifying and
maintaining directories of networked access and resources and to the
work of individuals and institutions concerned with standards
development for networked products and publications. For further
information, to indicate your interest, or to place an order, contact:

ARLHQ@UMDC.Bitnet (e-mail)
Ann Okerson or Christine Klein
Association of Research Libraries
1527 New Hampshire Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20036
202-232-2466 (phone)
202-462-7849 (fax)

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From: moritz%well@apple.com (Elan Moritz)
Subject: J. of Ideas, Vol 2  #1 Abstracts

Abstracts of papers appearing in
Volume 2 # 1  of the Journal of Ideas

THOUGHT CONTAGION AS ABSTRACT EVOLUTION
Aaron Lynch

Abstract: Memory  abstractions, or  mnemons,  form  the basis  of  a
memetic evolution  theory  where generalized  self-replicating  ideas
give  rise  to  thought  contagion. A  framework  is  presented  for
describing mnemon propagation, combination, and  competition. It  is
observed that the transition from individual level considerations  to
population  level  considerations  can   act  to  cancel   individual
variations and  may result  in  population behaviors. Equations  for
population  memetics  are   presented  for  the   case  of   two-idea
interactions. It is argued that creativity via innovation of ideas is
a  population   phenomena. Keywords:   mnemon,  meme,  evolution,
replication, idea, psychology, equation.

CULTURE AS A SEMANTIC FRACTAL: Sociobiology and Thick Description
Charles J. Lumsden

Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8

Abstract: This report considers the problem of modeling culture as  a
thick symbolic  system:    a  system  of  reference  and  association
possessing multiple levels of meaning and interpretation. I  suggest
that thickness, in the  sense intended  by symbolic  anthropologists
like Geertz, can be treated  mathematically by bringing together  two
lines of formal development, that  of semantic networks, and that  of
fractal mathematics.  The  resulting semantic  fractals offer  many
advantages for modeling  human culture. The properties of  semantic
fractals as a class are described, and their role within sociobiology
and symbolic anthropology considered. Provisional empirical evidence
for the hypothesis of a semantic fractal organization for culture  is
discussed, together with  the prospects  for further  testing of  the
fractal hypothesis. Keywords:  culture, culturgen, meme, fractal,
semantic network.

MODELING THE DISTRIBUTION OF  A "MEME" IN  A SIMPLE AGE  DISTRIBUTION
POPULATION: I. A KINETICS APPROACH AND SOME ALTERNATIVE MODELS
Matthew Witten

Center for High Performance Computing
University of Texas System, Austin, TX 78758-4497

Abstract. Although there is a  growing historical body of  literature
relating to  the  mathematical  modeling  of  social  and  historical
processes, little effort has been placed upon modeling the spread  of
an idea element "meme" in such a population. In this paper we review
some of  the  literature  and  we then  consider  a  simple  kinetics
approach, drawn  from  demography, to  model  the distribution  of  a
hypothetical "meme" in  a population  consisting of  three major  age
groups.  KEYWORDS:     Meme,  idea, age-structure,  compartment,
sociobiology, kinetics model.

THE PRINCIPIA CYBERNETICA PROJECT
Francis Heylighen, Cliff Joslyn, and Valentin Turchin

The Principia Cybernetica Project[dagger]

Abstract: This  note  describes an  effort  underway by  a  group  of
researchers to build a complete and consistent system of  philosophy.
The system  will address, issues of  general philosophical  concern,
including epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics, or the supreme human
values. The  aim  of  the  project  is  to  move  towards  conceptual
unification of  the  relatively  fragmented  fields  of  Systems  and
Cybernetics  through  consensually-based  philosophical  development.
Keywords:  cybernetics,  culture, evolution,  system   transition,
networks, hypermedia, ethics, epistemology.

Brain and Mind: The Ultimate Grand Challenge
Elan Moritz

The Institute for Memetic Research
P. O. Box 16327, Panama City, Florida 32406

Abstract: Questions about the nature of brain and mind are raised. It
is argued that  the fundamental  understanding of  the functions  and
operation of the brain and its relationship to mind must be  regarded
as the Ultimate Grand Challenge problem of science. National research
initiatives such as the Decade of the Brain are discussed. Keywords:
brain, mind,  awareness,  consciousness,  computers,  artificial
intelligence, meme, evolution, mental  health, virtual   reality,
cyberspace, supercomputers.

The Journal  of Ideas  is an archival  forum  for discussion  of  1)
evolution and  spread  of ideas, 2)  the creative  process, and  3)
biological   and   electronic   implementations   of   idea/knowledge
generation and processing.

The Journal of Ideas, ISSN  1049-6335, is published quarterly by  the
Institute for Memetic  Research, Inc. P. O. Box  16327, Panama  City
Florida 32406-1327.

E-mail requests to Elan Moritz, Editor, at moritz@well.sf.ca.us.

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From: BR2@CU.NIH.GOV
Subject: New Book: Cultural Approaches to Parenting

NEWLY PUBLISHED in APRIL 1991!
CULTURAL APPROACHES TO PARENTING
Edited by
Marc H. Bornstein

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Available from: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
                       365 Broadway
                      Hillsdale, NJ  07642
                             USA
                      FAX: 201-666-2394
                      TEL: 201-666-4110
              E-MAIL: ERLBAUM%DCM1LE.DAS.NET@SUN.COM

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1 Marc H. Bornstein Approaches to Parenting in Culture

PART I  CONCEPTIONS OF PARENTING: CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS

Chapter 2 Hanus Papousek and Mechthild Papousek
Innate and Cultural Guidance of Infants' Integrative Competencies:
China, The United States, and Germany

Chapter 3 Andree Pomerleau, Gerard Malcuit, and Colette Sabatier
Child-Rearing Practices and Parental Beliefs in Three Cultural Groups
of Montreal:  Quebecois, Vietnamese, Haitian

Chapter 4 Marc H. Bornstein, Joseph Tal, and Catherine S. Tamis-LeMonda
Parenting in Cross-Cultural Perspective: The United States, France, and Japan

Chapter 5 Gilda A. Morelli and Edward Z. Tronick
Parenting and Child Development in the Efe Foragers and Lese Farmers of Zaire

Chapter 6 T. Berry Brazelton
Discussion: Cultural Attitudes and Actions

PART II  CONSEQUENCES OF PARENTING:
  DYNAMICS OF ENCULTURATION

Chapter 7 Marian Sigman and Theodore D. Wachs
Structure, Continuity, and Nutritional Correlates of Caregiver Behavior
Patterns in Kenya and Egypt

Chapter 8 Marilyn Shatz
Using Cross-Cultural Research to Inform Us about the Role of Language
in Development:  Comparisons of Japanese, Korean, and English, and of
German, American English, and British English

Chapter 9 Judy Dunn and Jane Brown
Becoming American or English? Talking About the Social World in England
and the United States

Chapter 10 Barbara Rogoff, Jayanthi Mistry, Artin Goncu, and Christine Mosier
Cultural Variation in the Role Relations of Toddlers and Their Families

Chapter 11 William Kessen
Commentary: Dynamics of Enculturation

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From: rapaport@adara.cs.buffalo.edu (William J. Rapaport)
Subject: Society  for  Machines and Mentality

                  Announcing a New Professional Society
                  THE SOCIETY FOR MACHINES AND MENTALITY

 We are pleased to announce the formation  of  a  new  cognitive  science
 society, the  Society  for  Machines and Mentality, whose purpose is to
 advance philosophical understanding of machines and mentality, including
 such  issues  as  whether  machines  are able to think, whether machines
 could have minds, and related matters. Details on the activities of the
 Society are described in the Constitution, appended to this message.

 The Society's first meeting will be held in conjunction with the Eastern
 Division  of the American Philosophical Association meetings in December
 1991, to honor the launching of the journal MINDS AND MACHINES:  JOURNAL
 FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PHILOSOPHY, AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE by Kluwer
 Academic Publishers. The guest speaker will be:

   William Bechtel, Department of Philosophy, Georgia State University
 speaking on current issues in connectionism. Details will be announced
 when they become available.

  An election has been held in accordance with Article 4, Sections 2 to 4
  of the Constitution. James H. Fetzer, the Editor of MINDS AND MACHINES,
  has informed me that the final results of the election were as follows:

        President:      William J. Rapaport
                        Department of Computer Science &
                           Center for Cognitive Science
                        SUNY Buffalo
                        Buffalo, NY 14260

      Vice President:   David J. Cole
                        Department of Philosophy
                        University of Minnesota
                        Duluth, MN 55812

      Treasurer:        James H. Moor
                        Department of Philosophy
                        Dartmouth University
                        Hanover, NH 03755

  Anyone requesting further information about the election may contact Fetzer
  by email at jfetzer@ub.d.umn.edu. The Constitution defines the terms of
  office and the responsibilities of the officers in Article 3 (see below).

  Those who cast ballots in this election and anyone else who wishes to be-
  come a member of the Society for Machines and Mentality should send their
  dues (currently $5.00 per year) to the Treasurer, James H. Moor, at the
  above address. Please provide the following information for membership
  records:  name, position, affiliation, address, email address, and phone
  number. Please identify any information which is not to be made public.

                             CONSTITUTION OF THE
                       SOCIETY FOR MACHINES AND MENTALITY

 ARTICLE 1. Name and Objectives.

 Section 1. The Society for Machines and Mentality ("the Society" hereafter)
             shall be an international professional organization open to every
             qualified individual.

 Section 2. The objective of the Society shall be to promote, foster, support,
             and encourage literary and educational projects that have as their
             purpose to advance philosophical understanding of issues at the
             intersection of artificial intelligence, philosophy, and cognitive
             science, including such issues as whether machines are able to
             think, whether machines could have minds, and related matters.

 Section 3. The Society is not organized for profit, and no part of its net
             proceedings shall inure to the benefit of any officer or employee
             of the Society except that reasonable compensation may be paid for
             services rendered to and for the Society in connection with one or
             more of its purposes, which are entirely literary and educational.

 Section 4. No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the
             carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence
             legislation, and the Society shall not participate or intervene
             in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public
             office.

 ARTICLE 2. Membership.

 Section 1. Membership in the Society is open to any person without regard
             to race, creed, color, age, sex, or nationality or to any organi-
             zation interested in and sympathetic to its purposes.

 Section 2. Persons and organizations become members of the Society when they
             submit a letter of application to the Treasurer accompanied by the
             initial payment of membership dues. Membership is for one year and
             is renewable each year upon payment of membership dues. A member-
             ship year shall be the same as the calendar year.

 Section 3. All members shall be regular members and shall be entitled to the
             privileges specified by this constitution and its bylaws.

 ARTICLE 3. Officers.

 Section 1. The officers of the Society shall be:  President, Vice-President,
             Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President.

 Section 2. The President's term of office shall be for two years without re-
             newal. The President shall be the chief executive and operating
             officer of the Society and shall be responsible for arranging the
             program of and conducting the annual meeting of the Society.

 Section 3. The Vice-President's term of office shall be for two years without
             renewal. The Vice-President shall assist the President in arrang-
             ing the annual meeting of the Society and shall serve in place of
             the President when the President is unable to discharge his/her
             duties. Upon completion of his/her term of office, the Vice-Pres-
             ident shall succeed to the office of President.

 Section 4. The Treasurer's term of office shall be for two years and renew-
             able indefinitely. The Treasurer shall be responsible for receiv-
             ing and processing applications for membership, shall maintain
             control over dues received and disbursements made in accordance
             with the objectives of the Society, and shall keep accurate and
             up-to-date membership records of the Society.

 Section 5. Upon completion of his/her term of office, the most recent Pres-
             ident shall become the Immediate Past President of the Society
             and shall have a nonrenewable term of office of two years.

 ARTICLE 4. Elections.

 Section 1. Elections shall be held every two years or more frequently if re-
             quired.

 Section 2. The first slate of candidates for office shall be nominated by an
             ad hoc organizing committee consisting of the Editor of MINDS AND
             MACHINES and two others invited by him, who shall take steps to
             insure the confidentiality of the voting process. Thereafter
             elections shall be arranged by the Nominating Committee as appro-
             priate.

 Section 3. Whenever possible balloting shall take place by email with each
             member permitted to write in the name of alternate candidates.
             Otherwise balloting shall take place by surface mail. When email
             balloting is employed, members shall be given at least seventy-
             two hours to cast their ballots. When surface mail is employed,
             members shall be given at least one week to cast their ballots.

 Section 4. A candidate shall be elected by receiving a plurality of the votes
             cast in that election.

 ARTICLE 5. Liability.

             No member of the Society, or the Society itself, shall be legally
             responsible for any act done or any liability incurred by any
             officer of the Society, unless such action shall have been spec-
             ifically authorized in accordance with this constitution and its
             bylaws.

 ARTICLE 6. Committees.

 Section 1. The Treasurer shall chair a standing Membership Committee.

 Section 2. The officers of the Society shall serve as Nominating Committee
             and shall nominate at least one member of the Society for each
             open office whenever that becomes appropriate by virtue of its
             vacancy. The Nominating Committee shall arrange for balloting
             to occur in a timely fashion and in a manner that insures the
             confidentiality of the voting process.

 Section 3. The officers are authorized to establish temporary committees
             to promote the purposes of the Society as may be appropriate.

 ARTICLE 7. Meetings.

 Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Society in conjunction
             with the annual meeting of the Eastern Division of the American
             Philosopical Association, unless otherwise decided.

 Section 2. The annual meeting shall involve presentations by one or more
             speakers and may include a reception for those in attendance.

 Section 3. The location of the annual meeting may be changed and other
             meetings may be called with the approval of a majority of those
             voting using the same procedures as for the election of officers.

 ARTICLE 8. Amendments.

 Section 1. Amendments to this document may be proposed by the officers or
             any group consisting of at least five members of the Society.

 Section 2. Amendments shall be distributed and voted upon in the same man-
             ner as elections for officers, except that the adoption of an
             amendment shall require approval by two-thirds of those voting
             to be adopted.

 ARTICLE 9. Bylaws.

 Section 1. Bylaws of the Society may be adopted and amended. Proposed by-
             laws must be submitted to the President in writing, signed by
             at least five members of the Society.

 Section 2. Proposed bylaws must be submitted more than sixty days before
             the annual meeting and shall be voted upon prior to that meet-
             ing in accordance with the same procedures as apply to the elec-
             tion of officers, except that the adoption of a bylaw shall re-
             quire the support of a majority of those voting.

 ARTICLE 10. Powers.

             The Society shall have the power to do any lawful act or thing
             reasonably necessary or desirable for carrying out the Society's
             purposes and for protecting the lawful rights and interests of its
             members.

 ARTICLE 11. Dissolution.

             Upon the dissolution of the Society, the officers shall, after
             paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities
             of the Society, dispose of all assets of the Society exclusively
             for the purposes of the Society in such a manner, or to such or-
             ganization or organizations established and operated exclusively
             for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary
             purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization
             or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
             Code of 1954 (or corresponding sections of any future United States
             Internal Revenue Code), as the officers shall then determine.

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                             PSYCOLOQUY
                           is sponsored by
                     the Science Directorate of
                the American Psychological Association
                           (202) 955-7653

                              Co-Editors:

(scientific discussion)         (professional/clinical discussion)

    Stevan Harnad          Perry London, Dean,    Cary Cherniss (Assoc Ed.)
Psychology Department  Graduate School of Applied   Graduate School of Applied
Princeton University   and Professional Psychology  and Professional Psychology
                            Rutgers University           Rutgers University

                           Assistant Editor:

                            Malcolm Bauer
                        Psychology Department
                        Princeton University
End of PSYCOLOQUY Digest
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