from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
meme
/meem/, n.
[coined by analogy with `gene', by Richard Dawkins] An idea considered
as a {replicator}, esp. with the connotation that memes parasitize
people into propagating them much as viruses do. Used esp. in the
phrase meme complex denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that
form an organized belief system, such as a religion. This lexicon is
an (epidemiological) vector of the `hacker subculture' meme complex;
each entry might be considered a meme. However, meme is often misused
to mean meme complex. Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea
that in humans (and presumably other tool- and language-using
sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has
superseded biological evolution by selection of hereditary traits.
Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious reasons.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
meme
<philosophy> /meem/ [By analogy with "gene"] Richard Dawkins's
term for an idea considered as a {replicator}, especially with
the connotation that memes parasitise people into propagating
them much as viruses do.
Memes can be considered the unit of cultural evolution. Ideas
can evolve in a way analogous to biological evolution. Some
ideas survive better than others; ideas can mutate through,
for example, misunderstandings; and two ideas can recombine to
produce a new idea involving elements of each parent idea.
The term is used especially in the phrase "meme complex"
denoting a group of mutually supporting memes that form an
organised belief system, such as a religion. However, "meme"
is often misused to mean "meme complex".
Use of the term connotes acceptance of the idea that in humans
(and presumably other tool- and language-using sophonts)
cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has become
more important than biological evolution by selection of
hereditary traits. Hackers find this idea congenial for
tolerably obvious reasons.
See also {memetic algorithm}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1996-08-11)