Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c4f8m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T09:29:46.512Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Memes shape brains shape memes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2008

Susan Blackmore
Susan Blackmore
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, School of Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdomsusan.blackmore@blueyonder.co.ukwww.susanblackmore.co.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Christiansen & Chater's (C&C's) arguments share with memetics the ideas that language is an evolving organism and that brain capacities shape language by influencing the fitness of memes, although memetics also claims that memes in turn shape brains. Their rejection of meme theory is based on falsely claiming that memes must be consciously selected by sighted watchmakers.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 31 , Issue 5 , October 2008 , pp. 513
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Blackmore, S. J. (1999) The meme machine. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Blackmore, S. J. (2001) Evolution and memes: The human brain as a selective imitation device. Cybernetics and Systems 32:225–55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blackmore, S. J. (2007) Memes, minds and imagination. In: Imaginative minds. Proceedings of the British Academy, ed. Roth, I., pp. 61–78. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Bull, L., Holland, O. & Blackmore, S. (2000) On meme-gene coevolution. Artificial Life 6:227–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Darwin, C. (1874) The descent of man and selection in relation to sex, 2nd edition.John Murray.Google Scholar
Dawkins, R. (1976) The selfish gene. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Dennett, D. C. (1991) Consciousness explained. Little, Brown.Google Scholar
Dennett, D. C. (1995) Darwin's dangerous idea: Evolution and the meanings of life. Penguin/Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar