Hi Steve,
Regarding your clock, a long as it is powered, it is alive in the universe
of automata. I guess you remembered that the clock and the existence of
the eye where used as arguments against evolution-theory.
> I would appreciate any help "members" of this list might give me in
> understanding why certain "mental models" become fashionable and widely
> adopted at a moment in history, and then modified or discarded.
Because every "mental model" has its limitations and when you reach the
limits of a model, another model can and one will be successful. In my
view a "mental model" helps its modeller to survive and/or gain an
advantage and prosper. At first the inventor of the light bulb (or the
explorer trying to find a new route to the Indies, or MS-DOS, or the
organisation-model-makers like GM and DuPont) might seem to be a poor
fellow groping in the dark, but when his ideas work, it will be a gold
rush .. until the limits are reached, counter-forces are generated and
some new ideas are needed. A lot of time will be spend to adapt the old
model somewhat, as a lot has been invested in it (i have a MBA, so i'm
part of the problem)
You say it yourself:
> I can understand why the spectacular emergence of the computer has created
> all of the "mental models" or the brain as a computer, with folks using
> computer language to describe how they think.
And you go on:
> I am not clear why sociobiological mental models have suddenly become
> widespread, and so compelling that many who hold them want to talk about
> them not as metaphors or models but as truth: why they want to believe
> that social groups are alive and evolve and get sick and die, and so on.
So we are now searching for a better model, and this might be it. Why a
new idea is so compelling, i can only speak for myself. I now think that
this has to do with the limitations of our brain. Mother nature has always
been very efficient and used older structures to build new ones, so:
1. We are "pre-wired" to believe in mental-models; any model will do;
2. We have but limited time and capacity for focussing our thoughts and
will only change models when forced;
3. We are primarily concerned with the consistency of our own self-image,
of which the model is a part.
Hope it is some help,
Jan Lelie
--Drs J.C. Lelie CPIM (Jan) janlelie@pi.net (J.C. Lelie) LOGISENS - Sparring Partner in Logistical Development - + (31) 70 3243475 Fax: idem
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>