meme: /meem/ n. [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cultural evolution by selection of adaptive ideas has superseded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.
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