Memes

Passing cultural information from person to person.

In 'The Selfish Gene' Richard Dawkins coined the term 'meme' to describe cultural information that could be transmitted from person to person. Just as genes contain biological information in neat packages, so memes are units of cultural information passed between people. These operate in a similar way to genes but exist in a world of ideas rather than molecules.

Examples might include superstitions (black cats are lucky/unlucky) or cultural beliefs (sacred animals). Jingles, jokes or catchphrases could be considered memes. A provocative suggestion is that religious belief is a meme.

Although the meme concept has its enthusiastic supporters, it also has its detractors. It might have some descriptive value, but it is not clear whether it is a useful scientific theory.