The trouble with memes - Inference versus imitation in cultural creation

被引:83
作者
Atran, S
机构
[1] CNRS, Inst Jean Nicod, Paris, France
[2] Univ Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
来源
HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE | 2001年 / 12卷 / 04期
关键词
cognition; culture; imitation; inference; meme; modularity;
D O I
10.1007/s12110-001-1003-0
中图分类号
Q98 [人类学];
学科分类号
030303 ;
摘要
Memes are hypothetical cultural units passed on by imitation; although nonbiological, they undergo Darwinian selection like genes. Cognitive study of multimodular human minds undermines memetics: unlike in genetic replication, high-fidelity transmission of cultural information is the exception, not the rule. Constant, rapid "mutation" of information during communication generates endlessly varied creations that nevertheless adhere to modular input conditions. The sort of cultural information most susceptible to modular processing is that most readily acquired by children, most easily transmitted across individuals, most apt to survive within a culture, most likely to recur in different cultures, and most disposed to cultural variation and elaboration.
引用
收藏
页码:351 / 381
页数:31
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