Cargo Cults
Summary #
A cargo cult is a type of religious practice that may appear in traditional tribal societies in the wake of interaction with technologically advanced cultures. (Source: Wikipedia)
(Video: YouTube)
Commentary #
Cargo cults provide an interesting insight into the development of beliefs and rituals. The concept of cargo cults has been extended to include any superficial copy that is disconnected from the underlying workings.
Meta #
What are other examples of cargo cults?
See Also #
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Detached Lever Fallacy at Less Wrong (formerly Overcoming Bias) for a somewhat related discussion on artificial intelligence systems.
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Tanna: John Frum Day Sulfa Bay at YouTube for part of the annual ceremonies.
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Great Designers Steal at YouTube for a discussion about a similar behavior among designers.