I just finished reading a book by Susan Blackmore, The Meme Machine.
Meme may be an unfamiliar term to you so I will attempt to explain to the best of my limited ability. All of us are familiar with DNA and genes; these can also be termed replicators. It is how the blueprint of a species is passed down the generations. Modifications/mutations of DNA are the backbone of evolution.
Memes were not first proposed by Ms. Blackmore, but she explores the concept deeply. It is her contention that what separates Homo sapiens from other species is our ability to imitate. There are some other species that do some minor imitation, but none to the extent of humans. How do we imitate or copy? We observe, or receive instructions on how. Memes are a second replicator passing on the instructions for imitation. You want to know how to bake a cake. You grab a cookbook and get the recipe, which is a meme for baking cakes. Everyone decides to wear Mohawks; it is a meme sweeping through a population. Adultery is to be punished by stoning, it is a meme written down in a holy text, which is a basically a collection memes. You get the idea. Memes in the last couple of decades have gone digital and global. There are thousands, maybe millions of memes competing for space within our craniums. Like DNA evolution, the fittest survive and get replicated.
I read the book, and I bought her basic proposition on memes. Towards the end of the book she begins to wax philosophical and takes the meme proposition to its maximum extent. She argues that humans are simply a product of the two replicators, genes and memes. She goes on to argue that all our actions and thoughts are a result of the memes that have inserted themselves into our neurons. She cited a study where the conscious decision to do something happened “after” the brain had initiated the action.
I think most of us feel there is something within us that is semi-controlling this circus we call life. That something is what we call self. Ms. Blackmore argues that there is no self, just a collection memes over which the illusionary self has no control, no freewill.
This is not the first time I have run across this train of thought, but she did approach it from a different point of view. Part of me agrees with her. My basic “belief” is that I am a collection of molecules, cells, whatever, that has some sense of sentience… whatever that means. But I believe when my cells lose life that is it. So if there is no soul, is there a self? Can there be a soul without self? Is there a self? Are we just organisms walking around totally in control of self replicating memes? I would like to think there is a “me”. It is vaguely depressing to contemplate that there is not a self.
What do you think?
“Let’s get a discussion going.” Really? Are you sure? I mean, really?!?
Fire away, but as you know, I don’t consider the quoting of scripture as the proof of anything.
Way to deep for my shallow mind. But I do believe I have a soul. If I didn’t believe this life would be worth living.
Correction life would not be worth living
That is a discussion within itself worthy of an uncle of mine. Does life have meaning if there is no God, if there is no afterlife?
Since I am agnostic, bordering on atheist, that is a question I have pondered from time to time.
To me the meaning that life has is the meaning you give it. I know that religious memes give meaning to life for a large number of folks. As I have said many times, life is tough whatever gets you thru the day. I just have a hard time accepting that particular point of view.
The meaning I found in life is from my want-to-be-Buddhist framework/philosophy. I work hard to live an ethical life and to live in the moment. Beyond that I am not sure what I would need.
Another discussion would be can there be morality without religion. A Catholic theologian I read a while back did not think so. I disagree with him. Of course, morality is a tricky thing. What is moral in one culture may be immoral in another.
More sophomoric ramblings, but interesting questions to me.
By scripture, do you mean all writings considered sacred and inspired or just the Christian Bible?
I will not deny that there is wisdom in the various religious texts around the world.
But to use writings that were often created in the dawn of history as “proof” of anything is not something I am willing to do. These writings were created when folks thought slavery was okay, women were less than men, demons possessed humans, you could give your daughters to an angry mob to appease them, etc.
I do not believe in divine inspiration of any religious text. They are all works of humans and IMHO need to be looked at as such.
I would have to agree with Kurt Vonnegut’s quote, “Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!”
Which leaves us where? How do my questions get answered? Not sure they can be answered.
I do have a question. Why are you concerned about “self” if you believe there is nothing meaningful about you?
Philosophical exercise…
We all, I assume, feel there is a me. Reading this book made me ponder the question again.
I find such thought experiments interesting. I know there is not a good answer, but the questioning is the journey. Once I arrive, I am ready to go again.
I personally believe, and I would include my self in many circumstances, go through life without examining our basic assumptions. Maybe Descartes was right in approaching it from the point of view that all his assumptions were wrong until proven differently.
I read something once about confusing the finger pointing to the moon for the moon itself. Another way of looking at your question, David, is “who owns the self” you are referring to. I mentioned to a friend recently that “religion” (as opposed to spirituality) is when I get to define rules for you. You could say that “self” is an illusion, there is only Self. Which puts us right back where we started!
I can’t find a way to send a suggestion, so I’ll post here, since it seems to have the floor at the moment.
(Teach me the right way!)
You are not legitimately a Curmudgeon until someone calls you one. You can’t (won’t) assume that title by yourself. We all know this.
But how about a topic where we tell the others who did the deed to each of us and under what circumstances?
Suggestion taken, and new article added.
As an aside about posting. So far I have limited original postings to just a few. I welcome comments/suggestions from about anyone as long as they are not abusive or excessively offensive. I really do not care if you agree or disagree; it is the discussion I enjoy.