Original scientific paper

Meme Epidemiology – Integral (Holonic) Approach

Vanja Borš ; Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

In order to conduct a sound analysis of memes, the paper uses as integral approach as possible. Such integral approach is based on the holon theory, i.e. it begins with the assumption that reality is composed not only of wholes and parts but of mutually permeating wholes and parts, or holons. Therefore, in this paper, memes are first and foremost defined as holons, which contain noological information with a tendency towards replication, and which are created and spread (multiplied, transmitted, replicated, etc.) in the noosphere through “meme imitation”. Moreover, based on Wilber’s so called “all quadrants, all levels” model, memes as holons are fundamentally composed of their outer (that/this), inner (I) and collective inner (us) dimensions, or realities, which are mutually related and conditioned, and which exist in the dimension of time. Furthermore, it is important to indicate that the meme essentially represents the smallest unit which contains noological information, and which can be memically imitated, while anything that is larger than memes, and which is memically imitated (multiplied, spread, transmitted, etc.), constitutes a community of memes, or memplex. The paper particularly focuses on the analysis, description, characteristics and forms of the mentioned “meme imitation”, as well as the definition of fundamental interdependent conditions necessary for the creation and spreading of memes. For this purpose a “meme epidemiological chain” has been constructed. It is this “meme epidemiological chain” that greatly facilitates the path to answering one of the fundamental ambiguities within memetics, the question why some memes spread (multiply, transmitt, etc.) among some people and not among others.

Keywords

holon; integral approach; meme; memplex; “meme imitation”; “meme epidemiological chain”

Hrčak ID:

75362

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/75362

Publication date:

15.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian german

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