Memetics: An Introduction Vivek Kumar Singh J'K' Institute of Applied Physics

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Memetics An IntroductionVivek Kumar
SinghJ.K. Institute of Applied Physics
TechnologyUniversity of Allahabad
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Outline of the lecture

• 1. Memes and Memetics Explanation of the Terms
• 2. History and Introduction
• 3. Memes The Second Replicators
• 4. Memes Vs. Genes
• 5. The Memetic Life-cycle
• 6. Meme Fitness
• 7. Memetic Selection Criteria
• 8. 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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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.
• Humans 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