[coined by analogy with `gene', by Richard Dawkins] An idea
considered as a {replicator}, esp. with the connotation that memes
parasitize people into propagating them much as viruses do. Used esp.
in the phrase meme complex denoting a group of mutually supporting
memes that form an organized belief system, such as a religion. This
lexicon is an (epidemiological) vector of the `hacker subculture'
meme complex; each entry might be considered a meme. However, meme is
often misused to mean meme complex. Use of the term connotes
acceptance of the idea that in humans (and presumably other tool- and
language-using sophonts) cultural evolution by selection of adaptive
ideas has superseded biological evolution by selection of hereditary
traits. Hackers find this idea congenial for tolerably obvious
reasons.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {meme plague}{memetics}{replicator}{saga}{sig virus}]