Expelling the meme-ghost from the machine: an evolutionary explanation for the spread of cultural practices
Original version
Simon, C., & Baum, W. M. (2011). EXPELLING THE MEME-GHOST FROM THE MACHINE: AN EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATION FOR THE SPREAD OF CULTURAL PRACTICES. Behavior & Philosophy, 39/40, p127-144 https://www.jstor.org/stable/behaphil.39-40.127Abstract
Memes,
defined in terms of
ideas, mental representations
or
information, are
used in an attempt to explain the spread of cultural practices. We argue that such reference
to hidden replicators, which are said to have causal effects on a person’s actions,
appears
to
explain human behavioral patterns, but only results in restating the observed behavior. This
approach, based on a memotype
–
phemotype distinction,
falls prey to the unsolvable
problems of mind
–
body dualism.