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The crucial difference is that memes (thanks to the way we store them) can be quickly and easily revived, in short time span. However in a long perspective they
by ArekDymalski 11y ago
The crucial difference is that memes (thanks to the way we store them) can be quickly and easily revived, in short time span. However in a long perspective they aren't durable. The genes work exactly in opposite way.
- greggyb 11y agoLook at any major world religion for a counter example to durability.
- vegedor 11y agoIt's an unjust counterexample, because religion is in our genetics, a tendency to symbolism, hierarchy and dogmatism, awe and fear of the unknown. Theism though is anything but durable in the face of scientific progress, but the same can be said about genes. It is durable only in ignorance. Therefore faithful believe is a marker for predisposition, so the carrier will have to adapt or die out at which point the meme has to be revived, as the GP stated. Religions do change much quicker than the gene-pool. They hardly qualify as memetic if really anyone (counting in antheists with their own cults and rites modulo the theism) follows them, anyway.
- ArekDymalski 11y agoWhen compared to durability/persistence of genes, religions are just short blinks with their mere few thousands years. Actually cave paintings or tools are better examples of memes longevity.
- vegedor 11y agoIt is an antagonistic relation. Cultural preferences influence the selection which influences the genetics, while genetics influence cultural selection. Genetics have a negative feedback on culture, the culture can only develop as much as the genes allow, but the culture has a positive feedback on the genes (sexual selection).