Tom's question is not that simple but I will try.
A meme is a process recorded as an abstract object (but might also be an
"thing"). A process is a pattern of patterns--the way two patterns interact
together. An abstract object is a symbol for this process. So, a symbol is
an abstract *object* that interprets between two information streams. An
object is a stream of information and so is a pattern; so, you might say
that a "thing" is just a pattern of information forming a single stream by
which it is understood--and that a meme is also a "thing".*
A symbol is also a pattern of information but is not an object because it is
a pattern of patterns, a process--it interprets (again) between the patterns
we usually call objects. So streams of objective information are objects,
and symbols are *abstract* objects whose process shows a relationship
between objects...or, whose process interprets between two "logical
entities" (also "ideas").
The characteristic which defines an abstract object is it's ability to
"encode". Seen as above, "encoding" is the abstract object's ability to
maintain a pattern of interaction between two distinct logical necessities.
So now we might say the meme is an abstract object which encodes (in a
symbolic form) the pattern of interaction between two ideas.
If there is an organism and his environment who interact to create a
developmental process called evolution then there is a meme which encodes
this interaction as an abstract object. And though the meme is abstract, it
is still a thing...it is just a thing which depends on two (or more) streams
of information (ideas) to interact before it comes into existence (like
saying that a tornado is a thing but depends on the interaction of two or
more air streams to form it).
So, a meme is a "thing" which organizes ideas into a pattern of information
and which drives evolution. Like the tornado...when it is "gone" it can
still be noted by it's effects on the environment and on the organism. When
it forms again, it will encode these changes in the environment and organism
as a new symbolic pattern which interprets between them. The process of
re-forming is a constant change by which the meme itself evolves.
Deliberate changes in the organism or environment are also encoded into the
meme. In this way, new patterns are symbolically tested, evolve, impact the
environment, impact the organism, allow the organism to make deliberate
changes, encode these changes, etc. Therefore, a meme can be said to be the
equivalent of a gene for passing on "self-ordered"--or deliberate--changes
in ideas (objects, streams of information, the objective environment, the
organism, etc.).
Successful memetic patterns are passed on to other hosts so that the new
host might re-organize toward more successful interaction with the
environment (in line with the design of the meme). It is theorized that
this passing on of information occurs by "saltatation". Saltatation implies
that the meme gains a "charge" (a difference in the potential for one meme
to organize information as compared to the ability of another to organize
information). This charge travels between organisms like a nerve impulse
travels between neurons of different electric potentials.
The church of virus has tentatively concluded that in addition to changing
the environment and the organism, one can manipulate the meme itself to
encourage "infestation" of ideas between hosts.
*by the way, this single stream is the "logic" which distinguishes this
object as a distinct "thing"...so a meme might also be considered a "thing"
as long as it is viewed as a pattern with its own stream of information;
though, this would more accurately be a *symbolic* stream of *symbolic*
objects (or processes).
Put most simply, a meme is the process through which self-ordered changes in
ideas evolve and are passed on to new hosts.
Brett
ps. this is an original interpretation of the available data and does not
necessarily reflect the opinions of the Church of Virus
http://members.tripod.com/~Brettman35/index.html
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