Objective
The Meme Machine is a 1999 popular science 🏷️#book by Susan Blackmore, published by Oxford University Press, which explores the concept of memes as autonomous replicators. Building upon Richard Dawkins' original framing of memes in The Selfish Gene, Blackmore argues that memes—units of cultural transmission—can evolve independently of genetic evolution and may even influence biological development. The book systematically defines memetic theory, proposing that memes function as universal replicators with properties of fidelity, fecundity, and longevity. Blackmore contrasts "copy-the-product" with "copy-the-instruction" replication to highlight memetic error rates and introduces terms like "memeplex" and "meme fear." She applies the framework to phenomena such as language, altruism, sexual behavior, and the evolution of human consciousness. The book received mixed critical reception, praised for its cultural insights but critiqued for lacking biological rigor.