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".

Anthropology
Types
Archaeological
Biological
Linguistic
Research framework
Key concepts
Key theories
Lists

Examples include:

Belief Systems and Ideologies:
Religions, philosophies, political alignments, worldviews.
Organizations and Groups:
Churches, businesses, political parties, clubs.
Behavioral Patterns:
Musical practices, ceremonies, marriages, festivities, hunting techniques, sports.

Compared to inherited gene complexes, memeplexes have comparatively less pressure to benefit the individuals expressing them in order to replicate. Because memes and memeplexes replicate virally (i.e., by horizontal transmission), they are not entirely dependent on the success of their hosts in order to succeed. Memes and memeplexes do not have to be useful or true, physically or mathematically, to replicate. For example, geocentrism was at one point an extremely successful (in terms of widespread acceptance) idea, but is today not considered to be accurate, having been almost entirely replaced with more modern theories.

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)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.