Product Description

The publication in 1998 of Susan Blackmore's bestselling 'The meme machine' re-awakened the debate over the highly controverial field of memetics. In the past couple of years, there has been an explosion of interest in 'memes'. The one thing noticably missing though, has been any kind of proper debate over the validity of a concept regarded by many as scientifically suspect. Darwinizing culture: the status of memetics as a science pits leading intellectuals, (both supporters and opponents of meme theory), against eachother to battle it out, and state their case. With a foreword by Daniel Dennett, and contributions from Dan Sperber, David Hull, Robert Boyd, Susan Blackmore, Henry Plotkin, and others, the result is a thrilling and challenging debate that will perhaps mark a turning point for the field, and for future research. Superbly edited by Robert Aunger, Darwinizing culture is a thought provoking book, that will fascinate, stimulate, (and occasionally perhaps infuriate) a broad range of readers including, psychologists, biologists, philosophers, linguists, and anthropologists.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123570 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

New Scientist
"If you need a guide into the murky heat of memetics, look no further than the essays in Darwinizing Culture, which are a fine illustration of the murkiness at the heart of memetics, admirably framed by Bob Aunger's introduction and conclusion"

Review
If you need a guide into the murky heat of memetics, look no further than the essays in Darwinizing Culture, which are a fine illustration of the murkiness at the heart of memetics, admirably framed by Bob Aunger's introduction and conclusion (New Scientist )

About the Author
Dr Robert Aunger completed his PhD in Anthopology at UCLA. He has taught at Nortwestern University, The University of Chicago, as well as Cambridge University. He has recently signed with Free Press (via agent John Brockman) to write a trade book entitled 'The Electric Meme)

Customer Reviews

A balanced collection of essays about memetics.
This collection of essays examines and criticises Richard Dawkins' theory of memes - the idea that Darwinian evolution applies to the development of culture, and that bits of culture can be treated like genes. The collection presents pieces from both supporters and critics, and from a variety of backgrounds. Philosophers, anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, and political scientists come together and tell us what is helpful, and what's not. Memetic theory has been growing in popularity in recent years, perhaps because it is often presented as revolutionary and as having far-reaching consequences. However, little intelligent criticism has been offered of the theory, especially since it has been so misunderstood. I wrote a dissertation on the subject, and this was definitely the most useful book that i came across in my research, particularly the essay by Dan Sperber.