A Social Algorithm

Once upon a time, a student of molecular biology became curious about why his ideas should be the way they are. The ideas lived happily ever after.

Once upon a time, a student of molecular biology became curious about why his ideas should be the way they are. The ideas lived happily ever after. This text started as a collection of thoughts and ideas aimed at achieving personal clarity. It developed into something more ambitious: What if someone could encapsulate their world view so completely that the ideas took on a life of their own? What is it which is special about those collections of ideas which have taken on lives of their own in the past? I think there is very specific set of characteristics that define these collections of ideas above and beyond the idea of a "meme complex" (a set of mutually supportive ideas), in the same way there is a very specific set of characteristics that define life itself as more than a collection of nucleic acids, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. It is this specific subset of "meme complexes" that I call "social algorithms", and this text has become my attempt to create my very own "social algorithm". Writing it has helped me find clarity: It is my hope that reading it will help other people to find their own clarity.

Michael Le Page is a medical scientist, a musician and a composer, a dancer and a martial artist, and author and an avid reader. Michael’s life interests are diverse: he is currently a PhD student at the University of Western Australia, investigating the role particular genetic mutations play in human immunology. In 2007-08, he travelled back to the USA, and then onwards to South America on a five month trip of a lifetime. Above all, Michael enjoys projects which engage both the creative and technical parts of his mind, be it through experimental design in research, musical composition, working up concepts which implement new technology, or navigating his way to the next adventure!