ALL ABOUT MEMETICS, by Hans-Cees Speel.
--Nothing on this page reflects official standpoints taken by the board of JOM.
-
Selection.
An international printed new journal. Mail to selection@zeus.colhud.hu. The editor-in-chief is Prof Eors Szatmary. In the board you will find David Hull and Peter Richerson.
- memetic publications on the web. This site moved.
- Aunger, Robert "A Report On The Conference "Do Memes Account For Culture?" Held At King's
College, Cambridge" JOM:EMIT (1999)
- Memes and the Exploitation of Imagination by D Dennett.
- the evolution of culture By D. Dennett
- The Selfish Meme IDEAS
APRIL 19, 1999 VOL. 153 NO. 15
The Selfish Meme
A quarter-century after he
launched an infectious idea, a
scientist tracks its spread
through the culture
BY RICHARD DAWKINS
- Thought Contagion: How Belief Spreads through Society
A response to Paul Marsden by
Aaron Lynch
- "The Memetic Mind: Natural Selection in Mental Software" Forthcoming as a chapter in The Evolution of Intelligence,
- Language change as evolution: looking for linguistic `genes'Nikolaus Ritt
- Complex Societies: The Evolutionary Dynamics of a Crude SuperorganismPeter J. Richerson
- Memes and Mass Delusion February 21, 1998. by Aaron Lynch
- memes.org. have a look.
- making money. Someone is selling webspace at this www address. But you can also chat and read about memes. Well.. It is a free world.
- David Hales has some papers online. He is definitly one of the good guys :-)
- March 1999 Meme, Myself, I by Dr Susan Blackmore in New Scientist 13 March 1999 (pp40--44).
- The Forget-Meme-Not Theory by Dr Susan Blackmore in the Times Higher Education Supplement.
- NEW site on PAT DUFFY HUTCHEON and her book about the free will meme and more.
FAQ: What the hell is memetics; what is it not. Why do we need it? Frequently Asked Questions .I intend to let this faq grow and grow. For now, there are just a few questions. MAIL ME if there are other questions you would like to see answered. In the good tradition of internet FAQ's, there can be some humor involved in the Q and A. If you cannot stand that, do not read this section.
- Q: What is memetics
- A: Memetics is the science that studies cultural replicators (memes)
- Q: What is a meme
- A: There are many definitions on memes. Most people agree that a meme is a cultural replicator. A replicator involves replication (copying) of a structure, in analogy of the replication of genes that are copied when biological cells divide. This replication should be pretty precise, and most think it should also involve a structure that contains information (like DNA). That is about all that is agreed upon. Some say that a replicator must be able to self-replicate without help. That would probably mean that only biological cells are replicators. Most count genes or DNA as replicators. Some say that only cultural artifacts like the way you make pots, and behavioral habits are true memes. Most think in contrast that also ideas are memes.
- Q: Why do you bother with all the definitions: just tell me what a meme is?
- A: Without definitions there is only confusion. Especially when using analogy, as memetics does, definitions are crucial.
- Q: Can I study memetics?
- A: Not as a study like biology. You can of course do a major or something, or a phd thesis, but only if you find yourself a professor of some kind that wants to help you.
- Q: Where should I go to publish stuff.
- A: The Journal of Memetics. here . Or other journals like
- Q: Why don't you go away.
- A: Temper Temper.:-)
- Q: Is there a mailing list?
- A: Yes, It belongs to JOM-EMIT; see here. Please be advised that this list is for serious discussion. To subscribe to the list send the command subscribe memetics to the list managing address: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk in the body of the e-mail (please do not include a signature). To unsubscribe send the command unsubscribe memetics to the list managing address: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk in the body of the e-mail (please do not include a signature).
- To post to the list, so that your contribution is automatically distributed to all list members e-mail it to memetics@mmu.ac.uk (assuming you have already subscribed).
- Archives of the list are kept at http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/~majordom/memetics
- Q: Are there any newsgroups on memetics?
- A: USENET newsgroup alt.memetics, and a partial archive
- Discussion group about Dennett, author of Darwin's Dangerous Idea
- Q: What other Journals publish on memetics?
- A: The Journal of social and evolutionary systems ;
Selection. An international printed new journal. Mail to selection@zeus.colhud.hu. The editor-in-chief is Prof Eors Szatmary. Biology and Philosophy also carries many articles that concern memetics.
- Q: Isn't biology the only realm where real evolution takes place?
- A: Go away Stephen J.!
. But really, no it is not. There are numerous paper on the topic, where the question always is how you define what real evolution is. When you take the theory of evolution natural selection, the issue is of course biology and genes. But according to the definition of replication, interaction and selection memetic evolution is als an evolutionary theory. Definitions...
- Q: Is memetics a science?
- A: Define science
. This needs work..
- Q: Where are some introductions on memetics?
- A: Here and .....
- Q: Does memetics mean that
:
We all are trapped by our memes and have no free will? - A: No.
Religion is wrong? - A: No.
All human behavior is biologically determined. - A: No.
Where did you get that idea?
Lamarck was right? - A: No.
- Send me questions and answers please and I wil put them in here.
My publications on memetics
can be found on my publication link above. But they are here as well:
Speel, H.C., J. Vromen and J. Wilkins (2000)
Why Memetic Evolution is not Lamarckian. Forthcoming
This paper will argue that memetics is not Lamarckian. It will be online soon. (I wrote in 2000:-()
H.C Speel (1999) On Memetics and Memes as Brain-Entities
- a commentary on Gatherer's paper: Why the `Thought Contagion' Metaphor
is Retarding the Progress of Memetics. Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary
Models of Information Transmission,3. http://cfpm.org/jom-emit//1999/vol3/speel_h-c.html
Can be found here
This paper argues that memes are in the brain but also on paper.
Speel, H.C (1998) Why memes are also Interactors.
15th International Congress on Cybernetics NAMUR (Belgium), August 24-28.
In Press Can be found here
This paper is about the confusion in evolutionary theory about replicators and interactors. It argues that memes are not only replicators (they are copied), but also interactors. Memes compete in the minds of people, but also in policy processes to become the winners: those memes that are believed, are found useful, or that are chosen as part of a law, or as new rules. Since they are directly in competitions, in analogy with organisms for instance, they should count as interactors and as phemotype.
W.M de Jong and H.C. Speel (1998) Mimicry and
camouflage in organisation life. The art and craft of getting the money
you don't deserve. 15th International Congress on Cybernetics NAMUR (Belgium),
August 24-28. In press. Can be found
here
This paper is about the evasive theme in both biology and memetics; where interactors try to evade the selective forces.
Speel, H.C.A.M. (1997) A short comment from
a biologist. Journal of Social and Evolutionary Systems 20 (3):
309-322 Can be found hereClearing up some misunderstandings.
Speel, HC., (1997); A Memetic Analysis of Policy
Making.Journal of Memetics Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission,
1 http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jomemit/1997/vol1/speel_hc.html Can be found
here
A paper that rolls out a framework of interconnected concepts and definitions to see policy processes as memetic evolutionary processes.
Speel, H.C. (1997) A Memetic Framework for
the Analysis of Policy Formation. In: European Institute for Advanced Studies
in Management. Organizing in a Multivoiced World. Social construction,
Innovation and Organizational Change. Leuven Belgium, June 4-6.
A different paper, but the same theme as above.
Speel HC, (1997) Le idee come entita materiali.
In: La Transmissione delle idee. Montag, statica e dinamica delle idee.
Antomarini, B; Biscuso, M; D'ancunto, G; Gozzano, S; Ferretti, F; Traversa,
G (ed.). 3539. Edizione Fahrenheit 451 Roma Can be found here
Some memetics in italian.
Speel, H.C.A.M. (1996) Memetics: On a conceptual
framework for cultural evolution. In: Heylighen, F. and Alerts, D. (ed)
The Evolution of Complexity. Kluwer, Dordrecht, in press. Can be found
here
My very first paper on memetics. It actually goes very deep I think. However, I have changed my mind on some things..:-) I have received the copies last year (1999), but the paper was written in 1996.
Books on
memetics
I only take up books that specificly mention and deal with memetics.- The meme Machine. New book (April 1999) by Susan Blackmore. ISBN 19-850365-2, published by Oxford University Press. In my opinion this book is very well written and appealing. Many differ about its many scientific claims though.
- Shifting the patterns. Memetics, complexity and organisational or individual transformation. By by If Price and Ray Shaw
- Science as a process. The Book on memetic thought and science by David Hull (editor of the journal 'Biology and philosophy') Worth reading, if you ask me. The best if you want to know about philosophy of biology and memetics. More of his work can be found in the references of my publications.
- Thought Contagion. the book from Aaron Lynch . A book that has come out in 1996. He was the guy that Douglas Hofstadter in 'Metamagical themes' referred to, and the thinker that might have the longest history in thinking in memetic thought. Aaron is editor of the Journal of memetics.
- Virus of the mind a book on memes by Richard Brodie With a memes portal here (meme central)
I found this book to be a typical book for consultants. For memeticists it can be a little hard to read, but its ideas are well worked out in practical situations.
I find this book to be the mother of all memetic books, because of the depth of the definitions used to compare memetics and genetics.
While others have critique on this book, I think it is great. Brodie writes very well and brings the ideas out 'sparkling and bright'.
·nbsp; "Journal of Memetics, Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission" (JOM-EMIT)
click here ----->
— The brand new only and first peer-reviewed internet journal; to take memetics serious! - With in its advisory board Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Aaron Lynch, David Hull and Gary Cziko! Three volumes already online!
- The journal of memetics (since 15 may 1997) has a HUGE LIST of memetic references, a mailing list and archive and so on. The most important thing is the journal itself!
- Meme lab cyber place about memes. Connected to Susan Blackmore (see under books) .
- Meme Central by Richard Brodie here
- Various links
- (since october 1997) The evolutionary world politics homepage. A page on evolutionary theory in world politics.
- Two recent books and The only site I know on Richard Dawkins
- the work of William Calvin on evolution in the brain with some sharp insights that have relevance to memetics, in the sense that most memes are 'coded' in the brain to use Calvin's words.
- memesis symposium on memetics, and the emergence of internet, and the like
- memes on the net
For those that do not know, most of the board members of JOM-EMIT have met on the mailing lists of pcp. It was there that I met Mario Vaneechoutte who came up with the idea to start a journal on memetics.On the PCP server:- Memetic Lexicon on the pcp-server
- Structure of memes on the PCP server
- Memetics on the PCP server
- Memetic Selection Criteria on the PCP server
- Memes: Introduction on the PCP server
- Competition between Memes and Genes on the PCP server
- Internet Resources related to Principia Cybernetica about memes
- Old links That might still be very good
- Onars homepage is related to how ideas inside the mind 'mimic' the 'outer world'.
- A paper on memes by keith Henson
- The moving Cyberspace home of Alexander (Sasha) Chislenko
- viruses of the mind by Dawkins
- Brin/The New Meme, an essay
- arkuats meme workshop
- the darwin list on evolutionary biology, historical linguistics, textual transmission and stemmatics, historical geology, systematics and phylogeny, archeology, paleontology, historical geography, cosmology, and historical anthropology.
alt memetics mirror page
Papers online
four papers on memes by
Dr. I Price (added 1 april ), on memes in organizations
- Organisational Memetics?: Organisational Learning as a Selection Process
- THE LEARNING ORGANISATION MEME: EMERGENCE OF A MANAGEMENT REPLICATOR
- punctuated equilibrium
- Punctuated Strategic Equilibrium and some Strategic Leadership Challenges for University 2000
Three papers by Liane
Gabora (1 februari 1997) :
- The first one is "A day in the life of a meme" ,invited paper in special issue of Philosophica on concepts, mental representations, and dynamics . Gabora, L. (1996), A day in the life of a meme, Philosophica, 57, 901-938.
- The second is "Meme and Variations: a computer model of cultural evolution", in a volume called "1993 Lectures in Complex Systems" edited by Lynn Nadel and Daniel Stein, published by Addison Wessley, 1995. The site contains the text file only (without pictures).
- The third is a short paper titled "Culture, evolution, and computation", which appeared in the Second Online Workshop on Evolutionary Computation, March 1996, sponsored by the Society of Fuzzy Theory and Systems.
Papers by Daniel
Dennet, including:- Memes and the Exploitation of Imagination
- Evolution, Teleology, Intentionality," (continuing commentary on "Précis of The Intentional Stance"), Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 16, (2), 289-391.
- "Do Animals have Beliefs?"
- The general url for Dennet' s work is http://www.tufts.edu/as/cogstud/pubslist.htm
- Various papers
online.- old issues of the journal of ideas online.
- and the paper MEMETIC SCIENCE : I - GENERAL INTRODUCTION by Elan Moritz at last online with math symbols.
- New paper online Parasite Ecology and the Evolution of Religion by Ben Cullen. Ben alas died while working on this paper. I still have his emails to discuss things.
- Corresponse letter on the memetic basis of religion as published in Nature by Mario Vaneechoutte
- A debate on memes and cultural evolution I had with William Bezon. published that will be published in the Journal of social and evolutionary systems The begin is a paper that is called Culture as an Evolutionary Arena by William Benzon
- A recent Online book describing a new interdisciplinary theory of cultural selection By Agner Fog.
- Thesis on evolutionary theory by John Wilkins firmly related to my essays, in that it describes evolution by replication and interaction using Hull and Dawkins
In this essay William uses memes in a specific way, comparing biology and culture.
My reply William Bezon's essay A short comment from a biologist on William Benzon's essay 'Culture as an evolutionary arena'
In this reply I argue that a better use of the concept meme as replicator and interactor is needed. Can be referred to as: Speel, H.C.A.M. (1996) A short comment from a biologist on William Benzon's essay 'Culture as an evolutionary arena' . Journal of social and evolutionary systems (in press)
William Benzons reply to me again, called Culture's Evolutionary landscape In the final answer as to this date William argues that the question whether memes are in the brain is not answered yet, and that the brain might be a selective environment in which interaction takes place. He proposes the use of Powers reference levels in the brain to 'get a grip' on describing these processes.Adam Westoby, "The Ecology of Intentions: How to make Memes and Influence People; Culturology " Center Working Paper, 1996-1 Of course not by Dennet, but by Adam Westoby.
- Old news
online.- memetics on Dutch tv at 26 april 1998
- Memetic Symposium Belgium; August 1998. There are about 27 people joining us!.
- "The Memetic Mind: Natural Selection in Mental Software" Forthcoming as a chapter in The Evolution of Intelligence,
