The Evolution of Culture

1. The Evolution of Culture • Language (code) as cultural evolution Some scientists believe that culture and language evolve using the same patterns and principles as genetic evolution. Genes are replicators that pass on DNA. The best are all strong on: i. Fecundity – speed of transmission (and amount of transmitted material) ii. Fidelity – accuracy of transmission iii. Longevity – life-span of replicator

2. The Evolution of Culture • Recent scientific developments in this area include: - sociobiology - evolutionary psychology - computer sciences - ‘gene-culture coevolution’ (E.O. Wilson & Lumsden) - ‘cultural co-direction of evolution’ (Boyd & Richerson) - ‘culture and niche construction’ (Boyd & Richerson / Laland ‘99) - ‘memes & memetics’ (Dawkins, Blackmore, et al)

3. The Evolution of Culture b. Whereas the “gene” is the unit of transmission in biological evolution, the “meme” is the unit of transmission in cultural evolution. “Meme” is a shortened version of the Greek word “mimeme”, which means “imitation” or “mimicry”.

4. The Evolution of Culture c. What is a Meme? “ a replicator that conveys the idea of a unit of cultural transmission, or a unit of imitation” --Richard Dawkins - or - “an information pattern, held in an individual's memory, which is capable of being copied to another individual's memory.” -- F. Heylighen

5. The Evolution of Culture d. A meme unit is the smallest ideas or (idea sets) that get copied completely. Examples of memes or meme units: • The first four note of Beethoven’s 4th Symphony • Advertising slogans • Internet jokes that are passed around

6. The Evolution of Culture e. On the comparison of cultural to biological evolution... • Even Darwin noticed the similarities (diversity, ‘inheritance’); • Both are ‘trans-generational’, but cultural transmission is ‘multi-directional’ (not just parent-to-offspring); • Cultural transmission is underpinned by imitation and teaching; • Culture ‘accumulates’ over generations; • According to the social anthropologist George Murdoch, about 90% of a culture’s content is ‘borrowed’ from other cultures; • Genes promote adaptation ... but so does culture (all of it?) - eg tools and hunting skills - knowing what is edible and what is poisonous - rules and activities that sustain co-operation and sharing - attitudes to inventiveness and conformity, etc; • Cultural change (eg, marriage norm) influences gene transmission.

7. E.5. The Evolution of Culture Related or unrelated previous generation Idea / skill in brain Gene in parent Peer brains Gene Transmission Unrelated next generation brains Meme Transmission Gene in progeny Offspring brain

8. E.5. The Evolution of Culture f. Questions about the “memeplex”: • “Just as genes propagate themselves in the gene pool by leaping from body to body via sperms or eggs, so memes propagate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain via ... imitation.” (Dawkins). How do memes “leap from brain to brain”? • Memes “compete … for space in our memories” (Blackmore, 1999) … and form ‘co-adapted memeplexes’ that sometimes act like parasites ‘by propagating themselves at the expense of their hosts’ (Dawkins). What is an example of a “self-destructive meme”? • “Contagion” is another concept debated in this context …. (see A. Lynch). Can you think of a meme you have been “contaminated” with, which you don’t want influencing you (but nonetheless does?) What are the implications?

9. A New Theory of How We Think & Communicate The Evolution of Culture The burgeoning literature ... Journal of Memetics online … And finally … a great web site …