MEME MACHINE

MEME MACHINEBy Dr. Susan Blackmore

Synopsis of the book by M G Hariharanhttp://mghariharan.wordpress.com/

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Forward by Richard Dawkins

We all imitate others especially our parents. But surprisingly the imitationcould become a basis for major theory of evolution of human mind and explosive inflation of human brain even of what it means to be a conscious self.Imitation is how child learns its particular language rather than some other language. Follow the religion of our parents than some other religion. This entity which is giving consciousness and taking control over us is called Meme. The subject of study of this meme is called Memetics. These memes travel horizontally through genes and also laterally like viruses in an epidemic.

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The study of Genetics is a long standing subject of study. But surprisingly the study of memes is also turning out in same line and has many similarities. It may not be one to one cogent. But it can give many indications of the line of growth. Whereas Gene is digital in nature and can replicate itselfSuccessfully Memes also have in many situation near clear duplication capability and also mutate and form different verities of mutants of the original meme. Dr. Blackmore in this books comes out with many daring theories that are difficult to be challenged and explains many anomalies in life that are otherwise in explicable.Dawkins suggests that meme theory will give a better insight into the working of BrainDawkins appreciates the courage skill and dedication with which Dr. Susan has put the subject of Memetics into this book And strongly recommends this book for one and all.Go Back to Index

Humans are evolved due to genetics selection processBut differ in many ways from others.We speakWe wage warExtraordinarily widespread.We have religionWe are embarrassed about sexWe cremate/burry our DeadWe make technological progress.Watch TVDrive carsWe seem to ruin the ecosystem on which we dependBiologically we are very near to other animals but behave very differently.What is the reason for this changes behavior? Our language, Intelligence, or consciousnessStrange Creatures

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We are strange because we are intelligent!Research in Artificial Intelligence has shown that Intelligence does not explain our behavior.Super intelligent computer Deep blue bet the world champion and proved that Intelligence does not explain our behavior.Simple house cleaning devices could not be made with artificial intelligence

Our consciousness was presumed to make us what we were. But science could not explain ConsciousnessThe answer was Clear No

First to understand Replicators

From UniCellular to HumansCarbon + Hydrogen + Oxygen from Atmosphere form DNA

The carbon Hydrogen and oxygen combine for form DNA. Which are initial forma of living organisms . These organisms can replicate themselves. Thus they are called living organisms. Though they are replicating themselves they sometimes undergo change and then replicate. This is called mutations.. Some of the mutants due to environment or external conditions become extinct. All living organisms that we see are Replicators that have mutates from unicellular to multicellular like animals and ultimately as HumansMemeWhat is It

Selfish Gene 2. The trees will compete with each other and no tree will get the benefit. Each one will be so close by that all trees will be at disadvantage. But what if 3. We put a rule that only one tree should exist within limited space. Then that tree which breaks this rule will benefit over others.4. That is why men who break the rule will rule over usMemeWhat is It1. Tall Trees get more sunlight. So Tall trees grow over short trees. Genetically tall trees are benefiting.? Correct? No! Gene of tall trees are befitted but trees itself cannot get the benefit,Go Back to Index

These genes are not evolving in any preordained direction. So also Memes are also not evolving in pre ordained pattern. No specific meme has any advantage over the other such as no gene has any advantage over the other. Extinction of particular Gene is a random possibility aided by external nature.Natural Selection?

A simple coffee wending machine follows algorithm. but Chaos theory states the end result of these algorithm is complex chaotic and unpredictable.

Learn by imitation The word meme comes from mimicking . Man is the only animal that can imitate and learn and pass on this information from generation to generation. The information are ideas and are called memes. These memes are replicators and act as virus and replicate itself and have a life of their own What Is Meme?

Hunting: is just 15Hrs per week with plenty of leisure time.Farming : Did not make life easier nor did it improve nutrition nor reduce disease. It is called the end of Eden. Early days (during agriculture era) skeletons show toes and back are deformed. They show signs of rickets and abscesses in their jaw.

There was no genetic advantageMemetics saysMemes can spread because they appear to be of advantage even though they are not. Because they are easily Immitatable. What we are calling as progress from hammer to Xerox machine is directionless incremental imitations

Why?Progress?

Primordial soup

DNAOnly replicatorFor 3000 million years this was the only replicator

Meme is the next level of replicatorWe shall study the effect of this on Gene

As the gene went on developing it reached a stage where Brains could replicate ideas. Thus another set of Replicators were produced which started interacting with Genes and created complex situation.These Memes had a life of their on

Relation between Gene and Meme!

The relation between Gene and Meme could be through leash But in the end Dog has a life of its own and leash has limited controlGo Back to Index

Meme a Brain Virus

Though we may feel that Our brain is well developed its performance is like early computer & is highly susceptible to Viruses

All thoughts are Memes But unless spoken they Die

How Meme spread- VehicleGo Back to Index

Meme Carriers

Target

These are not memes . Parents shaping the childs behavior Go Back to Index

Yawning

coughing

LaughingContagiousBehaviorsThese are not memes. These are behaviors.

Garden bird was once seen pecking at milk bottles kept outside with mil Soon it was noticed many such birds started pecking at milk bottles. This is not case of imitation as pecking is their habit and only they noticed some fat available on the bottle. There is not imitation and learning in the process. Such examples cannot be given for imitation

What about some birds copying the door bell. Yes this is imitation but birds have very limited such abilityAll imitations are not memes

Monkeys learn to fear snake from their parents

Bird migration and learning to Nest from their parents etc are not imitation because no new things are learned and they just follow their instinct.

Lamarckismpassing of acquired characteristics

Go Back to IndexBiological characteristics are not Lamarckian but social behaviors are.Though Lamarckian process of transferring acquired characteristics is not justified some examples such as cutting the tail of the mice for many generations is partially transferable to newer generations.So what exactly is Social characteristics transferred but through meme.

Se the slide next where acquired characteristics and genetic characteristics are compared to transfer of soup making process through observations and through written recipe.

Transfer of soup preparation through Recipe or through observation

Recipe

Once the process is captured in Recipe then it is not changeableObserved process are not like genetic transferRecipe transfer are like Genetic transfer

Memes keep travelling between media and the brain and replicating itself in the process

Huge Human BrainDue to natural selection?If so the selection pressure must be identified.We seem to have brain surplus to requirements.Primitive hunters did not need this surplus brain but they still had it.Although our body was a product of continuous stages of development sudden change in Brain size is not explicable. Our Brain size is too large for our body.

3 times the size of Apes BrainApe

Growth of fetus of primates (monkeys) in early stages is same as human but later only the head/brain of human fetus keeps growing Go Back to Index

The head size started increasing 2and half million years ago when stone tools started being discovered

NeanderthalsModern Humanoids.In last 5 million years there were many types of humanoids but today there are only 1 type.In last 100000 years all humanoids had same size brain.It is said that though Brain consists of 2% of body weight but consumes 20% of energy. This figure is misleading. When we are running after train with luggage the energy consumed is very high

But our muscles rest but brain does not

Extinct 35000 years back

NeuronsConducts Impulses along Axons

Axons

HOWThe impulses consists of wave of depolarization which sweeps along the Axon as charged ions across the membrane. The brain uses energy to maintain chemical differences so that neurons are ready to fire.The Bodys energy budget must include the neurons firing at low frequency all the time. So why should we have a big size brain wasting energy like this. The building of brain is also expensive. Fatty sheath along Axon increases the speed of impulse. These sheaths are produced during fetal development. The homo erectus began eating more meat than australopithecines- and started making tools to cut it up.Fatty sheath

Because of the Heavy Head the childbirth is very dangerous for both mother and the child. Also erect biped status of Homosapians is also against child birthThe child born is also not fully formed. The main head is still under developed and the skull is not formed. Whereas many all apes give birth to fully formed child humans alone give birth to child which needs tending for many years to come.

The prefrontal cortex is a very enlarged portion and its function is unknown

prefrontal cortexThis raises a Question that Memes are forcing these changes for its own benefit

Why do we Talk So much

Talking is energy consuming . You will know it when you are sickHigh wattage speakers consume high energy

So Why has evolution produced such creatures consuming energy to speak.Memes produce this pressure to keep Talking

Selection for Imitation

Some people quickly pick up the technology of Tool making . So better imitators will rule the roost.Better tools help in eating Bigger animals so better food.

Selection for imitating the imitators

Man or Woman better imitators have better selection Now that dress has been invented you better get dressedNow that basket has been invented better carry it in BasketNow that computers have come better be a SW engineer. And so o.

Initially the best memes are that which is good for Gene.People who copy survival relevant memes have better chance than who carry irrelevant memes

Language

One of the most important evidence of Meme is language. Human beings are the only animals which has such wide communication skills which are not only verbose but involves complicated grammar. Such complicated grammar has no genetic advantage . Such skills are not actually taught but acquired without much efforts by children. By the time they are taught ABCD.. Etc they can communicate fluently and effortlessly. Even deaf and dumb people use very complicated sign language which is very friendly. Same time teaching to chimpanzees is very difficult and takes years for just 3 word sentences.

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Brain has not been modified for speakingThen what are the differences that make us speak

To override the mechanism of breathing while speaking cortical control mechanism is required; Base of the skull is different shape and Larynx is lower than other apes Cortical control and larynx do not leave fossils. The base of the skull is different only in Humanoids.

Successful Replicator by Dawkins

Language ensures all the three aspects of Meme spreadingThus High fidelity languages are born. In India English becomes dominant due its high fidelity and longevity. The comparative life of regional languages will become low

Gene Gene Interactions

CompeteWhen genes compete their special advantage will win over the other.White wins over Brown

CompeteButter flies that have better camouflage compete with Birds with better eyesight.

Microbes inside bodyIvy and treeAnts and AphidsCo habit and compliment

Beavers Dams, Spiders Webs and Snails shells are examples of how genes effect each other related or not related. In the case oh Snails and parasitic Flukes the relation is only mutually beneficial. There is no other relation and each is governed by its own requirements.Selfish GenesThus genes without foresight and intention and successfully copied or not, can compete each other exploit each other, cooperate with each other for mutual benefit

Gene vs MemeAs long as meme is under the control of Gene the dog is on leashGenes have biological advantage. Liking for sex, sweets fear of snakes etc are in place. These are stuff of biology, ethology, sociology, and evolutionary psychologyWhen the Dog is not on leash the situation cannot be predicted based on Biological advantageThis subject is called mematics.The two examples discussed till now are Big Brain and Languages.

Three Steps to Memes spreadingGo Back to Index

Mimetic Selection

Genetic Selection & Mating

Baldwin EffectJames BaldwinIntelligence, Imitation & Learning affect SelectionSalamander Salamanders catch flies by jumping. The one Salamander that jumps the highest will catch maximum flies and has better chance of survival. Salamander with strong legs and the one s that jump high are better in the gene pool and they slowly tend to become like frogs. Perfectly Darwinian effect.

Now imagine there are two types of flies One spotted (edible)and one stripped. ( Inedible)The frog lings that can know the difference are in better genetic pool. But if Flies change faster that the froglings can then those froglings that learn to choose are better off than others. This advantage of learning is Baldwin EffectFrogling

Dennetts TowerTower of generate and test

When the dog is not in LeashTill now we saw the Gene Meme effect enhancing the Gene Co evolutionBaldwin Effect

Meme is the next level of replicatorWe shall study the effect of this on Gene

From the fourth floor of Dennetts Tower the Memes are unleashed on its own course

The Genes had no Foresight that They were Cohabiting with another replicatorWe are going to see that it was not just dog unleashed but Elephant run amok

Slaves in Rebellion

It was Spartacus in Control

Super fast Brain growth that no way helps the Genes and in fact caused Death to child and Mother is one such exampleHuge Energy Consumption

Normally in all animals its close relations are existing in parallel But in the case of Humans all hominids have been destroyed and only one that is we are existing Probably designed by the memes

Continued in Meme machine II Still under development