Fulfilling Second Set of Long Wait Requirements

The superorganism emerges at a whole new level in the final crisis.

It is interesting to ask whether the memes so emergent fulfill the requirements of the second long wait: facilitation of sub-principles, compatibility with evangelical predation, and ability to address the anima.

The fundamental purpose of meme and superorganisms is to create principles. So, the first requirement is fulfilled easily. The internal self and its principles are the primary beneficiaries of this strengthening of their own principle-creation process. Because others cannot apprend the principles directly the internal self can easily manipulate its own understanding of the principles created by the memes to benefit itself to the damage of others. Thus compatibility with evangelical predation is fulfilled. Since the superorganisms are the only entity aware of events internal to the memes themselves, it is the only entity capable of directly addressing the superorganisms.

Thus we can predict that memes will be particularly adept at appealing to a broad range developmental levels, which certainly accords again with our experience in the real world. Note that such memes are not limited to entities which we usually associate with religions. Any emergent entity which facilitates the acceptance and understanding of principles of any type (from ethical standards to liberty, from equality to use-value) can be considered superorganisms in this context.

Thus we should not be surprised to see political theories such as those of Marx and Jefferson which postulate principles develop with a kind of evangelical fervor not unlike that usually reserved for true religions.

See also The Pattern and Rare Earths.

— Scotus - 30 Jul 2000