Memeplex

Much of the study of memes focuses on groups of memes called meme complexes, or memeplexes. Like the gene complexes found in biology, memeplexes are groups of memes that are often found present in the same individual. Applying the theory of Universal Darwinism, memeplexes exist because memes copy themselves more successfully when they are "teamed up".

Examples include:

technological devices 
cars, airplanes...
complex infrastuctures 
hospitals, train stations...
behavioral patterns 
musical practices, ceremonies, marriages, festivities, hunting techniques, sports...

Unlike inherited gene complexes, memeplexes do not have to benefit the individuals expressing them in order to replicate. Rather, because memes and memeplexes replicate virally (i.e., by horizontal transmission), they can be beneficial, inconsequential, or pathogenic to their carriers. Memes and memeplexes do not have to be true or useful to replicate.

Philosopher Daniel C. Dennett, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, and consciousness researcher Susan Blackmore (author of The Meme Machine) are proponents of memetics.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. Dan Dennett. "Dan Dennett: Dangerous memes - TED Talk - TED.com". ted.com.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved August 21, 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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