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Definition of Meme
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Richard
Dec 20, 2003, 9:04:10 AM12/20/03
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The meme hypothesis regards cultures as composed (in part) of
particulate, socially-transmitted units. These cultural replicators
are argued to have several properties which make them fundamentally
similar to genes. Memes are conveyed among individuals by a variety
of forms of social learning, and due to their imperfect transmission
undergo processess akin to mutation. Given some correlation between
the variant properties of different versions of a meme and its
replication success, memes may be subject to natural selection, and
could evolve adaptations if they are capable of effectively responding
to selection pressure. The transmission of memes between individuals
has been described by a number of mathematical models derived from
population genetics and evolutionary theory. In the case of vertical
cultural transmission (from parent to offspring) genetic and cultural
fitness are expected to covary significantly. Thus memetic
adaptations are likley to increase biological fitness, exhibiting what
we might call cultural symbiosis. In cases where the mode of
transmission is horizontal (among peer) or oblique (non-parental
inter-generational), the reproductive success of genes and memes are
not expected to be significantly positively correlated, and may show
negative correlations (cultural parasitism). In these cases the
reproductive success of the meme is not dependent upon the
reproductive success of their host. Cultural adaptations which evolve
under circumstances of limited vertical transmission may develop
self-referential adaptations which aid them in their spread through
human social networks, at the expense of human biological reproductive
success, much as parasites evolve adaptations which aid their spread
through their host populations while causing disease and death.
particulate, socially-transmitted units. These cultural replicators
are argued to have several properties which make them fundamentally
similar to genes. Memes are conveyed among individuals by a variety
of forms of social learning, and due to their imperfect transmission
undergo processess akin to mutation. Given some correlation between
the variant properties of different versions of a meme and its
replication success, memes may be subject to natural selection, and
could evolve adaptations if they are capable of effectively responding
to selection pressure. The transmission of memes between individuals
has been described by a number of mathematical models derived from
population genetics and evolutionary theory. In the case of vertical
cultural transmission (from parent to offspring) genetic and cultural
fitness are expected to covary significantly. Thus memetic
adaptations are likley to increase biological fitness, exhibiting what
we might call cultural symbiosis. In cases where the mode of
transmission is horizontal (among peer) or oblique (non-parental
inter-generational), the reproductive success of genes and memes are
not expected to be significantly positively correlated, and may show
negative correlations (cultural parasitism). In these cases the
reproductive success of the meme is not dependent upon the
reproductive success of their host. Cultural adaptations which evolve
under circumstances of limited vertical transmission may develop
self-referential adaptations which aid them in their spread through
human social networks, at the expense of human biological reproductive
success, much as parasites evolve adaptations which aid their spread
through their host populations while causing disease and death.
Martin Willett
Dec 26, 2003, 2:37:07 PM12/26/03
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Genetically mal-adaptive oblique non-parental inter-generational meme
transfer negatively correlated to genetic fitness within a dominant
parasitic memeplex. Or buggering altar boys as the priests call it...
--
Martin Willett
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