Human beings play a very important role in earth system and make huge impacts for the earth’s environment and other creatures on this planet. Why human beings can be so powerful and most dominated species of the environment? As the dominated species, human beings are so different with other animals. Susan Blackmore as a famous writer and parapsychology, she tries to find that why human beings are so unique and shows some her ideas about human intelligence in her essay “Strange Creatures”. Meme is a very important way transmit human thinking and behavior and it is also shows the highly intelligence of human beings. Meme will also influences how people think and guides human beings become a very unique group on this planet. As one of the complex …show more content…
They are imitation, ability to spread and the feature of selfish.
Imitation is one of the key parts of meme, many animals are also having this ability but human being is the only group with highly developed imitation. Human beings are not only having the ability to think, but also own imitation that can help them learn from others’ thinking, behavior and experience, rather than learn by doing the same things. Other species of animals may have the ability to learn and think but they lack the ability to imitate, which makes them different with human beings. Blackmore mentions “we use the word learning for simple association or classical conditioning (which almost all animals can do), for learning by trial and error or operant conditioning (which many animals can do) and for learning by imitation (which almost none can
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In the human society, there are several influential tools such as cultures, religions and fashions. Both of them can influence many people, the way about how their influence spread is named meme. Blackmore points out “as example, he suggested tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or building arches”(36). Just like the gene, in human society, different cultures, thinking and religions can also be spread from person to person. This phenomenon only exists in the human society. For meme, background environments are very important because they need the environments, which people will be influenced by their surroundings to transmit. For human beings, they are influenced by memes because they are everywhere, people are influenced by meme when they learn, talk to others or even get some new ideas from books. Blackmore mentions, “memes are stored in human brains (or books or inventions) and passed on by imitations”(36). On the one hand, human beings are good to learn form others or from textbooks that is why memes can work so well in human brains; on the other hand, memes make sure that every member of human beings can be influenced by human thinking and cultures, which is very important for whole group of human beings. Memes play very important role in human world because they
Renee Stout’s “Tales of the Conjure Woman,” currently on exhibition at Spelman College’s Cosby Hall, puts on display the culturally mysterious nature of African folklore. In the exhibition, Stout presents with utter brilliance the depth of the culture through her artistic manifestation of ceremonial traditions, magical hoodoo, and spell-related practices. In her works, Stout uses a unique personification, an alter ego of sorts, named Fatima Mayfield, to explore the African folkloric world of which her exhibition represents. Ranging from simple recipes to intricate descriptions of the aforementioned magical practices, Stout takes on her work with her alter ego in an attempt to demonstrate both the past and contemporaneous dimensions of her work. Additionally, it would seem as if Fatima exists as a sort of special source of understanding and clarity for Stout given her vast knowledge and countless abilities. The exhibition is home to various pieces that allow one to “jump inside the pages” and interact with Stout’s rendition of the African folkloric community.
Genes transfer biological traits which are transferred from parent to offspring and typically confer some benefit to its holder. It may not be optimal benefit, however does confer some benefit. Memes on the other hand transfer psychologically appealing information. Genes typically need a generation or so to be transmitted whereas memes spread quicker than would genes and can be transmitted in a matter of seconds. While there are some substantial differences the two are also very similar. Both memes and genes are very good at getting themselves copied. These genes that are good at copying themselves will become more prevalent in the environment and comparably so will those memes that are most psychologically appareling. A meme, according to Dawkins, can be considered a cultural counterpart to a gene. For example, although we don’t know the specific origins of where God came from, the idea of a divine being can often be seen in writings, art and music and even word of mouth. These tools have essentially been responsible for carrying on this idea of a divine being, thus making this a
"The very creativity and activity of human minds as temporary homes for memes seems to guarantee that lines of descent are hopelessly muddled, and that phenotypes (the "body designs" of memes) change so fast that there's no keeping track..." (Dennett 355)
The term survival of the fittest applies not only to species, but ideas. Good ideas have the ability to spread and infiltrate the minds of many, a trait that some ill-conceived ideas can themselves employ. Richard Dawkins identified a new replicator in the world, the meme, a replicator of culture. It is this replicator that men such as Jonathan Kozol rely on. For without the propagation of ideas, Kozol’s thoughts on education reform would only be known to himself.
As a result they create there ideology of what and how they feel about the society. It is also believed that popular culture diverts people from what is important and considered beneficiary to the elite. This ideology conceals the reality of domination from those power (Storey 2006). The categorization of what is popular culture and what is classical culture over the years has been onesignificant issue when it comes to ideological practices.Popular culture in pre-modern societies, was integrated and inseparable from day to day life routines. Again culture became commercialized. For instance in modern society the manner in which object are manufactured and the massage the products communicate has not only affected how people view them but also they use them. Again people use this product despite of them having no clue of how they are produced. That is “the negative effects of popular culture were very clear to Walter Benjamin, who argued that mechanical reproduction of arts removes the ‘aura’ from that work. (Kidd, 2007, p. 74).the consequences of this process is that people don’t know or get to learn the traditional way of production of get to learn from those who produced cultural objects.People ability to think independently and critically have been greatly undermined by the introduction of the
For many years, people assumed that humans are significantly different from other species, which made them somewhat superior. However, research on animal behavior, especially our closest relatives, the apes has led to new discoveries that show many similarities between human and animals. Some of these similarities have questioned the uniqueness of humans and have led to debates not only among scientists but in the public as well. Frans de Waal, a renowned primatologist and the author of The Ape and the Sushi Master, is among the scientists that claim animals and humans are quite similar. The main focus of his book is to show that culture is not exclusive to humans. De Waal was not the first scientist to propose the theory that animals have culture nonetheless; it was received with a lot of enmity. He attributes this to the fear of losing the qualities that make humans special. Claims of language in apes became so threating that animal research was almost banned. According to de Waal, “attempts of censorship do reveal just how much insecurity surrounds human uniqueness”. (32) In an attempt to support his argument, he addresses the controversial issue of morality in animals. Morality is considered a cultural aspect and therefore people often use cultural biases in decision making. Dan Kahan, a psychologist, referred to this as cultural cognition, which “refers to the tendency of individuals to conform their beliefs about disputed matters of fact to values that define their cultural identities”. Subsequently, theories on morality depend on the perspective of the scientists who carry out the research. De Waal supports his theory by analyzing aspects of morality in humans and comparing them to animal behavior.
Are adults overprotective of their children? To what point do we protect children? Where should the line be drawn? Along with those questions is how easily children can be influenced by these same adults. Two poets, Richard Wilbur and Billy Collins, express the ideas of how easily children can be manipulated and how sometimes adults think they are protecting their innocent children, when in reality they are not. Wilbur and Collins express these ideas in their poems through numerous literary devices. The literary devices used by Wilbur and Collins expose different meanings and two extremely different end results. Among the various literary devices used, Wilbur uses imagery, a simple rhyme scheme and meter, juxtaposition of the rational and irrational, and a humorous tone to represent the narrator’s attempt to “domesticate” irrational fears. Conversely Collins uses symbols, historical interpretations, imagery, diction and other literary devices to depict the history teacher’s effort to shield his students from reality. In the poems, “A Barred Owl,” by Richard Wilbur, and “The History Teacher,” by Billy Collins, both poets convey how adults protect and calm children from their biggest, darkest fears and curiosities.
In Mary Oliver’s poem “The Black Snake,” the narrator contemplates the cycle of life with the unpredictability of death. Mary Oliver’s work is “known for its natural themes and a continual affirmation of nature as a place of mystery and spirituality that holds the power to teach humans how to value one’s life and one’s place” (Riley). In the poem, The Black Snake, the narrator witnesses a black snake hit by a truck and killed on a road one morning. Feeling sympathy for the snake, the narrator stops, and removes the dead snake from the road. Noting the snake’s beauty, the narrator carries it from the road to some nearby bushes. Continuing to drive, the narrator reflects on how the abruptness of death ultimately revealed how the snake lived his life.
Humans are extremely complex and unique beings. We are animals however we often forget our origins and our place in the natural world and consider ourselves superior to nature. Humans are animals but what does it mean to be human? What are the defining characteristics that separate us from other animals? How are we different? Human origins begin with primates, however through evolution we developed unique characteristics such as larger brain sizes, the capacity for language, emotional complexity and habitual bipedalism which separated us from other animals and allowed us to further advance ourselves and survive in the natural world. Additionally, humans have been able to develop a culture, self-awareness, symbolic behavior, and emotional complexity. Human biological adaptations separated humans from our ancestors and facilitated learned behavior and cultural adaptations which widened that gap and truly made humans unlike any other animal.
The reading by Barbara Creed titled “Horror and the Monstrous-Feminine: An Imaginary Abjection”, is an in-depth examination on the role of women in horror films. Creed challenges the commanding patriarchal view, which frequently puts the woman in the position of the helpless victim. She argues that when the feminine is constructed as monstrous, it is frequently done in conjunction with its mothering role and function. Creed’s main thesis supports that the prototype of all cinematic definitions of monstrosity related to the feminine is linked to the woman’s reproductive body. Creed elects to use the term “monstrous feminine” instead of female monster, because for Creed it is the “femininity itself that is monstrous” (41). It has been unfairly
. One could say that the human race is more advanced than animals because of the technology that it has. Technology is a great thing, but it can also be used for controlling people. In the book 1984, George Orwell gives one a great view of the possible horrors that could come out of technology when it's used for the purpose of control.
Mike Keefe, an American cartoonist, created this cartoon that portrays a man being interviewed for employment. The personnel asks him if education provided him with any tools for success and he struggles to respond because of confusion over the question’s format. He is depicted with a perplexed gaze in an upright sitting position, and is grasping a pencil with a striking attachment to it. His eyes seem disconnected to the present situation as if something has gone wrong. He is struck by a question he is unaccustomed, causing a communication barrier. It is as if he is brainwashed to only function for exams and is bewildered by questions that go beyond his wiring.
Blackmore, Susan. “The Theory [of Memes] is Promising and Testable.” Free Inquiry. 2000 (Summer), 20.3
Our ideas are influenced by our surroundings and it is done so by, imitation. Susan explains, “Everything that is passed from person to person in this way is a meme. This includes all the words in your vocabulary, the stories you know, and the skills and habits you have picked up from others and the games you like to play. It includes the songs you sing and the rules you obey” (Blackmore 37). Our actions and behaviors seem to be in control by the meme. We all may try to be creative and imaginative but imitation is the obstacle that stops us from being our true selves. Likely, Yoshino mentions that, “Because covering applies to us all, it provides an issue around which we can make common cause… our common human wish [is] to express ourselves without being impeded by unreasoning demands of conformity” (295). Many of us have tried to cover our authenticity because it is the social norm. Relatively to imitation, covering our identity is also a hurdle, which holds us back from flaunting our natural character. Kenji also mentions, “Since Hector St. John de Crevecoeur’s 1782 Letters from an American Farmer, this country has touted assimilation as the way Americans of different backgrounds would be “melted into a new race of men”” (294). This ‘melting into a new race of men’ is referred as the ‘melting pot’ by Israel Zangwill’s play. Covering helps us blend into the ‘melting pot’ and make us all fairly similar. Imitation
In general, individual cannot be built without the continuous outpouring him or her into the society for understanding his or her position and identity. It is impossible that an infant is able to figure out he or she is a human being before he or she has the conception about “human being.” A man cannot know whether he is smart or not without comparison with other men. Therefore, all information about an individual must be obtained from other individuals in one society. The biological process of being a social individual is the time when the individual interacts with an outside social environment in both physical and emotional ways. The reason why an individual has to touch and output outside environment is the incompleteness of society. That is, there is no society which does not base on human beings because society is not a biologically extraneous phenomenon, and the society must be shaped by activities of every individual. With the continual establishment of the relationship between every individuals and social world, the existence of society become real. In short, the broader social world is the product of the activities of human