Parasites of the Mind. Why Cultural Theorists Need the Meme’s Eye View
M.Boudry and S.Hofhuis,
(..) systems of misbelief may evolve into full-fledged mind parasites, developing novel purposes of their own, and subverting the interests of their vectors (not just of the latter’s genes)
(..)Doxastic parasites spread not because they serve human interest, but
because they are more salient, attractive, better shielded from critical scrutiny and refutation, more conducive to spurious confirmation, and more likely to elicit credibility-enhancing displays that infect other agents.
We think destructive phenomena like the European witch hunts should be Exhibit A of the meme’s eye view(..)
(..)Doxastic parasites spread not because they serve human interest, but
because they are more salient, attractive, better shielded from critical scrutiny and refutation, more conducive to spurious confirmation, and more likely to elicit credibility-enhancing displays that infect other agents.
We think destructive phenomena like the European witch hunts should be Exhibit A of the meme’s eye view(..)
