Transcript Memetics

Memetics: An Introduction
Vivek Kumar Singh
J.K. Institute of Applied Physics & Technology
University of Allahabad
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Outline of the lecture
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Memes and Memetics: Explanation of the Terms
History and Introduction
Memes: The Second Replicators
Memes Vs. Genes
The Memetic Life-cycle
Meme Fitness
Memetic Selection Criteria
Application Areas:
Evolution of Culture
Consciousness in the Alternate Media
Evolutionary Computing: Memetic Algorithms
Memes on the Net: Towards a Global Brain
9. Limitations
Meme Structure
Physical Instantiation
Neural Basis
10. References
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Meme & Memetics: Explanation of the terms
Meme: A cognitive or behavioural pattern that can be
transmitted from one individual to another.
Memetics: The theoretical and empirical science that
studies the replication, spread and
evolution of memes.
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History and Introduction
Pioneered by Richard Dawkins in 1976.
Universal Darwinism- Evolution not only of
species but also of culture, immune system etc.
Memes- replicators of cultural information,
analogous to genes.
Memetics- An extension of Darwinian evolution
to culture.
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Memes: The Second Replicators
Replicator- a physical entity that makes copies of
itself.
Characteristics of a successful replicator:
Longevity
Fecundity
Fidelity
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Memes Vs Genes
Genes-Vertical transmission only.
Memes-Both vertical & horizontal transmission.
Memes spread much faster than Genes.
Memes have much higher fecundity than Genes.
Copying fidelity of memes is much lower than
that of Genes.
Meme carrier does not need to be killed in order
to eliminate an inappropriate meme.
Memes and Genes have different selection
criteria.
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Memetic Life-cycle
Assimilation- A successful meme must be able
to infect a new host.
Retention-Memes must remain in the memory
for some time.
Expression-To be communicated the meme
must be expressed as a physical entity.
Transmission-The expression is transmitted
through a physical carrier or medium.
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Meme Fitness
The overall survival and proliferation rate of a
meme.
Average number of memes at time t divided by
average number of memes at time t-1.
In simplified form meme fitness F(m):
F(m)= A(m) x R(m) x E(m) x T(m)
where, A(m)- Fitness of assimilation.
R(m)- Fitness of retention.
E(m)- Fitness of expression.
T(m)- Fitness of transmission.
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Memetic Selection Criteria
Meme centered criteria- Selection on the level of
meme itself, depend on internal structure of the
meme.
Subjective criteria- Selection by the subject who
assimilates the meme.
Intersubjective criteria- Selection through
interaction between different subjects.
Objective criteria- Selection by phenomena
independent of hosts and memes involved.
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Criteria
__________
Stages
Meme
Centered
Criteria
Subjective
Criteria
Intersubjec
tive
Criteria
Objective
Criteria
Assimilatio
n
SelfJustificatio
n
Novelty
Simplicity
Coherence
Authority
Formality
Distinctiven
ess
Retention
Selfreinforcement
Tolerance
Coherence
Utility
Conformity
Invariance
Controllabilit
y
Expression
Proseylitsm
Expressivit
y
Transmissi
on
Proseylitsm
Publicity
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Application Areas
Evolution of Culture
Darwinian approach- Replication, random
variation, survival of fittest.
Neo-Darwinian approach- used the concept of
genes.
Universal Darwinism- Evolution of Culture
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Genetic & Memetic Scenarios for Evolution
of Cooperation
A fundamental problem in evolution of culture
is to explain how cooperation and altruism can
emerge during evolution.
Both Genetic and Memetic frameworks try to
explain it but Genetic framework has some
limitations. Memetic framework answers this
criticism.
Group selection
Kin Selection
Reciprocal Altruism
Moralism
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Meme-based Models of the Mind:
Consciousness in Alternate Media
We are nothing more than physically based
meme systems.
Human’s capacity for virtual wiring.
Auto-stimulatory feedback loops.
Serial thought process in Computers.
Mind, as physical information processing
system, can exist within electronic media.
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Evolutionary Computing: Memetic Algorithms
Evolutionary algorithms are search and
optimization procedures inspired by natural
evolution.
Memetic Algorithms are E.A.s with memetic
framework.
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Memes on the Net: Towards a global Brain
Media by which a meme is communicated will
greatly influence its eventual spread.
Networks have much higher fecundity, longevity
and fidelity and transcend geographical &
cultural boundaries.
Infosphere, Physical world and Cyberspace.
Cyberspace will eventually contain the entirety
of human knowledge.
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Limitations
Elements and units that make up a meme are
difficult to define.
No clear picture of Physical instantiation in the
brain.
Actual neural processes in memetic life-cycle
are not precisely known.
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References
F. Heylighen, Nov. 2001, Principia Cybernetika Web,
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be
Journal of Memetics- Evolutionary Models of Information
Transmission, Vol. 1-7, http://jom-emit.cfpm.org
Richard Brodie, 2002, Meme Central, www.memecentral.com
Richard Dawkins, 1976, The Selfish Gene, Oxford University
Press
Susan Blackmore, 1999, The Meme Machine, Oxford
University Press
Joshua S. Lateiner, 1992, Meme-based models of mind and
the possibility for Consciousness in alternate media, Man
Mind and Machine
Liane Gabora, 1997, The origin and evolution of Culture and
Creativity, JOM-EMIT Vol. 1 Issue 1
Liane Gabora, Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Origin
and Evolution of Culture, Doctoral Thesis,
http://www.vub.ac.be/CLEA/liane/
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Thank You
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