[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adaptive ideas has superseded biological evolution by selection of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.
eplicator: n. Any construct that acts to produce copies of
itself his could be a living organism, an idea (see {meme}), a
program (see {quine}, {worm}, {wabbit}, {fork bomb},
and {virus}), a pattern in a cellular automaton (see {life},
sense 1), or (speculatively) a robot or {nanobot}....
eplicator n.
Any construct that acts to produce copies of
itself his could be a living organism, an idea (see meme), a
program (see quine, worm, wabbit,
virus), a pattern in a cellular automaton (see life,
sense 1), or (speculatively) a robot or nanobot....
