Daniel Dennett: Memes 101 | How Cultural Evolution Works | Big Think

Summary

In this transcript, Richard Dawkins explains the concept of memes, which he introduced in his 1976 book 'The Selfish Gene.' He compares memes to genes, emphasizing how cultural ideas and practices replicate and evolve over time through differential copying. These 'memes' are passed down not genetically, but through social learning, including language, art, and customs. Dawkins challenges traditional notions of human creativity, proposing that cultural achievements emerge not solely from individual genius, but through the collective transmission of ideas, with more practical and beneficial memes outlasting others in society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Richard Dawkins coined the term 'meme' in his 1976 book *The Selfish Gene*, proposing that culture is made up of replicable units, like genes.
• 😀 Memes spread through society like genes do, with differential replication driving the evolution of culture.
• 😀 Many in the humanities found Dawkins' theory offensive because it challenged the idea of human genius as the sole creator of cultural achievements.
• 😀 Culture is passed down not through genetics but through societal transmission, from parents, peers, and the environment.
• 😀 The analogy between genes and memes holds because both are information passed on and replicated, though not through biological inheritance.
• 😀 Just as genes are not made of DNA, memes are not made of specific media—they can be transmitted through various forms like ink, speech, or digital language.
• 😀 Language is a potent medium for transmitting memes because it is 'digitized,' composed of fundamental elements (phonemes) that help transmit meaning.
• 😀 Even without understanding the meaning of a message, humans can transmit cultural information by repeating the sequence of sounds or symbols.
• 😀 Memes, like viruses, replicate by spreading easily and adapting over time, with early memes being more like viruses that spread without being particularly useful.
• 😀 As time passed, memes that provided benefits or improved ways of doing things became more successful and spread more widely, contributing to cultural evolution.
• 😀 Modern 'meme creators' design specific memes, but much of human culture consists of words and ideas that were not deliberately invented, yet they thrive and evolve.
• 😀 Culture is composed of ideas and practices with histories and lineages, which combine in creative ways, much like genes, through the process of differential replication.

Q & A

What is the central idea behind Richard Dawkins' concept of memes?

Dawkins' concept of memes suggests that human culture is composed of units of cultural information, much like genes. These memes spread through copying and replication, and their differential replication accounts for the development and design of culture.

Why did Richard Dawkins' idea of memes cause controversy in the humanities?

Dawkins' idea was controversial because it challenged the notion that human creativity and cultural achievements are the products of individual, genius creators. Many in the humanities preferred the idea of a Godlike creator responsible for cultural works like poems or bridges.

How does Dawkins explain the role of culture in the creation of human achievements?

Dawkins argues that human achievements, like poems or bridges, are possible only because individuals are influenced by the surrounding culture. These cultural elements, or memes, are passed down through society, shaping the thoughts and actions of individuals.

How are genes and memes similar according to Dawkins?

Genes and memes are similar in that both carry information. While genes are information encoded in DNA, memes are cultural units of information that can be transmitted and replicated in various forms, like spoken language or written text.

What is the distinction Dawkins makes between genes and DNA?

Dawkins clarifies that genes are not DNA itself but the information carried by the DNA. He compares this to how poems are not ink but the message conveyed through the medium of ink.

What role does language play in the transmission of memes?

Language is an effective medium for transmitting memes because it is digitized. This means it is composed of a finite set of elements (phonemes) that can be combined in various ways, allowing information to be transmitted efficiently and accurately, even if the person transmitting the information doesn't fully understand its meaning.

How does Dawkins compare the transmission of memes to the spread of viruses?

Dawkins likens the spread of memes to the spread of viruses, particularly in their early stages. Memes, like viruses, may not have any immediate utility but spread because they are catchy and propagate as long as their 'vectors'—those who carry them—remain alive and continue to spread them.

What changes occurred in the nature of memes over time?

Over time, competition for utility arose among memes. Memes that provided benefits or better ways of doing things began to spread more successfully. This led to the differential replication of useful memes, contributing to the design and evolution of culture.

How are memes similar to words in a language?

Like words, memes are elements that are passed down and evolve over time. Most words in a language are not deliberately created but become useful and robust enough to survive. Similarly, memes spread and persist because they offer benefits, even if people don't fully understand why they are effective.

What is the overall impact of meme replication on human culture?

The process of meme replication results in a creative and evolving cultural landscape. Ideas spread through society, with those who adopt beneficial memes thriving. This process leads to the development of culture without any central design, which Dawkins sees as a form of brilliant engineering that no individual could have invented on their own.