In this blog post, based on Dawkins’ meme theory, we explore the role memes play in cultural evolution, their essence, and their evolutionary process.
In his book The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centered theory of evolution, describing living organisms as ‘survival machines for genes’. He argues that genes act selfishly to replicate themselves and that all biological behavior can be explained from the gene’s perspective. This viewpoint brought significant change, particularly in understanding the altruistic aspects of animal behavior. This theory gained attention for its applicability not only to animals but to all living beings, including humans.
However, humans are distinguished by possessing a unique culture compared to other life forms. In Chapter 11 of The Selfish Gene, Dawkins emphasizes that humans possess another ‘replicator’ besides genes, introducing the new concept of ‘memes’. He likens memes to ‘cultural genes,’ explaining that human intellectual activities and social behaviors evolve and spread in a manner analogous to the replication process of genes. While this concept offered a fresh perspective, it also became a subject of controversy. The meme concept was evaluated as an attempt to expand the existing notion of genes from the perspective of replicators, but it has faced criticism for its still unclear nature. This paper discusses the concept of memes, the general resistance to it, and the need for research, proposing methods to clarify the nature of memes.
According to Dawkins, the human brain’s large size enables cultural evolution through exceptional imitation abilities. Humans have created diverse forms of culture, including language, religion, and art, and these cultural elements have replicated, spread, and evolved through memes. For example, the meme ‘belief in the existence of God’ has spread among people through specific religions or philosophies, persisting across time and space. Memes possessing such powerful appeal have high survival rates, leading them to be copied and disseminated to more people. This process of meme propagation, while distinct from genetic evolution, has driven cultural change in a similar manner, profoundly impacting human society.
Dawkins viewed the evolution of memes as inducing ‘cultural mutations’ similar to genes. Just as self-replicators called DNA emerged from the primordial soup to drive evolution, the human brain provided the foundation for memes to arise. Human creativity and imagination are also deeply connected to the development of these memes. For instance, the advancement of art, science, and religion has spread through memes and continuously evolved. These creative expressions became essential elements for the development of human society, and Dawkins explains this as the reason humans are unique compared to other animals.
However, according to Dawkins’ argument, memes act as independent replicators themselves, parasitizing the human brain to replicate themselves in others. Memes possess a selfish nature, propagating specific ideas, behaviors, or beliefs among people to replicate themselves. Unlike genes, however, memes undergo mutations more frequently during replication, and at a much faster rate. Consequently, memes are far more fluid and rapidly mutable than genes, manifesting in diverse forms. For instance, ancient religious doctrines replicated and mutated through people’s beliefs, persisting into modern times. Yet, during this process, they also transformed into new forms of faith or merged with other cultures.
The relationship between memes and genes can be complementary, but they sometimes conflict. For instance, celibacy in medieval Europe became a powerful meme among clergy. While this meant clergy did not genetically reproduce, the doctrine replicated and spread in a manner substituting for genetic survival.
The concept of memes offered a new approach to explaining culture and evolution, yet debates about its substance have persisted. Memes have faced significant criticism for lacking a physical form, unlike genes, and being abstract concepts that evolve within human cognition and experience. Some scholars argue that equating memes with genetic replication is problematic, insisting memes should be interpreted solely as a metaphorical expression. However, Dawkins sought to present memes as a crucial lens for understanding the evolution of human culture. Memes can serve as tools for explaining complex social and cultural structures. Studying them allows us to understand how humans have formed and maintained specific values and beliefs.
Furthermore, recent advancements in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technology have significantly broadened the possibilities for meme research. Unlike when Dawkins’ meme theory first emerged in 1976, today we can analyze human cultural change and the spread of memes using vast amounts of data. We now live in an era where AI and machine learning can track the spread and transformation of specific memes and analyze their impact on society in real time. For example, analyzing the speed and pathways of meme diffusion on social media allows us to concretely grasp people’s cultural tendencies and their evolution. This goes beyond simple analogy, offering a method to more clearly define the essence of memes.
In conclusion, meme research can play a crucial role in understanding human culture. The meme concept proposed by Dawkins provides another lens for understanding complex human social structures and cultural change. The ultimate message meme theory conveys is that human thought and culture can transcend the realm of genes. If such research continues, we will gain a deeper understanding of how the culture and values humans have created have been formed and transmitted.
