The theory of memes says that memes are replicating entities like genes. Memes quantify culture, ideas, thought and so on. Is a meme a brain replicator gene?
2006-07-02 01:23:30 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Absolutely memes are real. You can watch them spread and multiply rapidly until almost the entire population is infected with them.
Funny thing, sometimes when one is isolated from the vehicle of transmission, TV for instance, it may take longer. You may see a word or hear a phrase and need someone to translate it for you. For instance, "bling" is a recent meme - a concept that seems like almost everyone knows. Yet, I had to ask someone where it came from and what it meant. I gather it is a term that means jewelery and flashy stuff. It comes from some mobster show.
Global warming is a meme, as well. So is political correctness. Understand these are not just words but whole concepts that sweep through a culture. They exist only in brains and they are passed on to other brains. They are traceable, sometimes beneficial (making fire was a meme, so was chipping arrowheads) and sometimes not so.
2006-07-02 02:51:37 · answer #1 · answered by NeoArt 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, a meme is an abstract concept, but it functions similarly to genes in that it can pass on information (or misinformation, I suppose) from one generation to the next.
2006-07-02 01:29:25 · answer #2 · answered by night_trekker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-07-02 01:38:18 · answer #3 · answered by punno 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋