The word \u201cmeme\u201d was coined in the book \u201cThe Selfish Gene\u201d by\nRichard Dawkins in 1976. Memes do for a\nsociety what genes do for a species. They\ncarry crucial survival information down through time. A good\nmeme is an idea that helps a society survive. \nThat\u2019s what culture is for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Culture is not limited to humans.\u00a0 There is a pod of orcas that has learned to swim together to make a bow wave.\u00a0 They use this to sweep seals off small ice floes and get lunch.\u00a0 Other animal groups that pass information down the generations are said to have a culture.\u00a0 This usually doesn\u2019t include mama showing the cubs what to eat.\u00a0 Note that \u201cmama shows\u201d not \u201cmama teaches\u201d.\u00a0 The kids are watching, though, and they learn.\u00a0 When mama brings home some live prey for the kids to practice on, that comes close to teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The difference between animal and human culture is language. Growls and posture suffice for \u201cDon\u2019t do\nthat!\u201d. Humans still employ these, of\ncourse, but the use of language permits the transmission of far more abstract\nconcepts. Memes, we submit, can only be\ndescribed with words, so animals can have a culture, but don\u2019t use memes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first meme, then, was probably just the word \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Later, it might be more specific: \u201cHey kid!\u00a0 You know Ogg died doing that!\u201d\u00a0 Ogg\u2019s death became a lesson in survival for future generations.\u00a0 Much, much later, we wrote such things down, which is a great meme on its own.\u00a0 In the beginning, the memories were kept in the living minds of the elders, which is the same as with animals.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternate History:\u00a0 Cavemen sit around the fire, discussing how to improve their lot.\u00a0 One suggests, \u201cHey!\u00a0 Let\u2019s use memes!\u201d, and human <\/em>culture begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The name of Meme 0 is Lore, a catchall phrase for information passed down. It’s less self-referential than the Meme of Memes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The word \u201cmeme\u201d was coined in the book \u201cThe Selfish Gene\u201d by Richard Dawkins in 1976. Memes do for a society what genes do for a species. They carry crucial survival information down through time. A good meme is an idea that helps a society survive. That\u2019s what culture is for. Culture is not limited … <\/p>\n