The Meme Machine

116 THE MEME MACHINE
approximation), but in other cases the full picture can be understood only by
considering both replicators. I will turn now to some of those other cases.
Memetic drive and Dennett’s tower
The two examples I have already given are fundamental to understanding human
behaviour. They are the big brain and the evolution of language. I have argued
that both depend on memetic driving, and I want now to explain this process
further and put it in context. The most important step is to show how and why
memetic driving is not just another form of evolution in the service of the genes.
Unless this is true, memetics can still be reduced to sociobiology.
Memetic driving works like this. Once imitation arose three new processes
could begin. First, memetic selection (that is the survival of some memes at the
expense of others). Second, genetic selection for the ability to imitate the new
memes (the best imitators of the best imitators have higher reproductive
success). Third, genetic selection for mating with the best imitators.
The first step means that new ideas and behaviour begin to spread
memetically, from making tools and pots, to dancing, singing and speech. The
second step means that the people who are best able to pick up the new memes
have more offspring who are also able to pick up the new memes. So everyone
tends more and more to imitate the successful memes. The third step means that
mate choice is also driven by the memes that are prevalent at the time. The
consequence of these processes operating together is that the direction taken by
memetic evolution affects the direction taken by the genes. This is memetic
driving.
Memetic driving may look at first sight as though it is the same as what is
known as the Baldwin effect but it is not and I must explain why.
The Baldwin effect was first described by the psychologist James Baldwin
who referred to it as ‘a new factor in evolution’ (Baldwin 1896). It explains how
intelligent behaviour, imitation, and learning can all affect selection pressure on
the genes. As we have seen, there is no Lamarckian ‘inheritance of acquired
characteristics’ in the sense of passing the results of learning on to the next
generation through the genes. Behaviour, however, does have effects on natural
selection.
Imagine, for example, a salamander-like creature that eats flies. Individuals
that can reach highest get the most flies. Now imagine that one of them begins
to jump. It gets more flies and soon any of its mates that cannot jump at all