In The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins introduces the concept of “memes” to explain human cultural evolution apart from genes. Memes are cultural replicators-ideas, beliefs, behaviors, etc.-that spread to people through imitation and, like genes, aim to survive and replicate themselves. Meme theory is scientifically and socially important as a tool for understanding how human culture and values evolve, and modern AI and big data make it increasingly possible to analyze and study them.
In his book The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centered theory of evolution, describing life as a “survival machine of genes.” He argues that genes act selfishly in order to replicate themselves, and that the behavior of all living things can be explained in terms of genes. This perspective has revolutionized our understanding of the altruistic aspects of animal behavior in particular, as the theory should be applicable to all living things, including humans, not just animals.
However, humans are unique in that they have a unique culture compared to other life forms. In Chapter 11 of The Selfish Gene, Dawkins introduces the concept of “memes” to emphasize that humans have other “replicators” in addition to genes. He likens memes to “cultural genes” and explains that human intellectual activity and social behavior evolves and spreads in a similar way to the replication process of genes. While this concept offered a new perspective, it also sparked controversy. While the concept of memes has been praised as an attempt to extend the traditional concept of genes in terms of replicators, it has also been criticized for its lack of clarity. In this article, we will discuss the concept of memes, common objections to it, the need for research, and suggest ways to further clarify the nature of memes.
According to Dawkins, our enormous brains enable cultural evolution through our ability to imitate. Humans have created various forms of culture, such as language, religion, and art, and these cultural elements have been replicated, propagated, and developed through memes. For example, the meme of “belief in the existence of God” was transmitted to people through a particular religion or philosophy, and it has transcended time and space. Memes with such strong appeal have a high degree of survivability, meaning they are copied and spread to more people. This process of meme propagation is different from genetic evolution, but it has had a profound impact on human society, creating cultural change in a similar way.
Dawkins sees the evolution of memes as a “cultural mutation” similar to genes: just as DNA, a self-replicator, emerged from primordial soup and drove evolution, the human brain provided the foundation for memes to be born. The creativity or imagination found in humans is also linked to the development of these memes. For example, the development of art, science, and religion have all evolved through the spread of memes. These creative expressions have become essential to the development of human society, and Dawkins argues that this is what makes humans unique from other animals.
However, Dawkins argues that memes are independent replicators in their own right, parasitizing the human brain and working to replicate themselves in others. Memes are self-replicating, spreading certain ideas, behaviors, and beliefs from person to person, but unlike genes, they mutate more frequently and at a much faster rate. This makes memes much more fluid and rapidly mutating than genes, taking on many different forms. For example, ancient religious doctrines have been replicated and mutated through people’s beliefs and have survived into the modern era, but they have also morphed into new belief forms or fused with other cultures along the way.
The relationship between these memes and genes is sometimes complementary, but sometimes they conflict with each other. For example, celibacy in medieval Europe became a powerful meme among the clergy, which led to the clergy leaving no offspring genetically, but the doctrine was replicated and propagated in a way that superseded the survival of genes.
The concept of memes offered a new approach to explaining culture and evolution, but its substance has also been debated. Memes have been heavily criticized because, unlike genes, they have no physical form and are abstract concepts that change in human perception and experience. Some scholars have argued that it is a stretch to equate memes with genetic replication, and that memes should be interpreted as figurative representations. However, Dawkins intended memes to offer an important perspective on understanding the evolution of human culture. Memes can be used as a tool to explain complex social and cultural structures, and by studying them, we can understand how humans have formed and maintained certain values and beliefs.
And with recent advances in big data and artificial intelligence (AI), the possibilities for studying memes are expanding. Unlike in 1976, when Dawkins’ meme theory first appeared, we now have a wealth of data to analyze human cultural change and the spread of memes. AI and machine learning have made it possible to track the spread and mutation of a particular meme and analyze its impact on society in real time. For example, by analyzing the speed and path of a meme’s spread on social media, we can get a detailed picture of people’s cultural trends and how they change. This will be a way to move beyond mere analogies and more clearly identify the substance of memes.
In conclusion, the study of memes can play an important role in understanding human culture. Dawkins’ concept of memes provides another lens through which to understand complex human social structures and cultural change. The ultimate message that meme theory gives us is that human thought and culture can go beyond the realm of genes. With continued research, we may be able to gain a deeper understanding of how human culture and values have been shaped and propagated.
