模因论的理论困境及其辩护

The Theoretical Dilemma of Memetics and Its Defence

模因论从生物学的视角来诠释文化及其传播与演化机制,即认为文化是通过非遗传的方式,特别是模仿来进行传播。它是一个关于模因如何在社会系统中传播并影响社会行为的理论,模因在其中作为实体性的信息传递单位,成为一种关于我们思想、行为以及规范的指导性因子,在文化演化中发挥着举足轻重的作用。这种观念对传统的文化演化观带来了冲击,同时也遭受多方面的质疑。文章通过分析模因的概念内核以及它的主要理论问题,对围绕模因论的实在论、取消主义以及工具主义立场进行辨析,继而以一种弱实在论的立场对模因的概念价值提供辩护。

Memetics interprets culture and its mechanisms of transmission and evolution from a biological perspective,that is,through non-genetic means,especially imitation.It is a theory about how meme spreads and influences social behaviors in the social system.As a substantive unit of information transmission,meme has become a instructional factor for our thoughts,behaviors and norms,and played an important role in cultural evolution.This idea exerts impact on the traditional view of cultural evolution,but also suffers from many problems.By analyzing the conceptual cores of memetics and its main theoretical problems,this paper analyzes the positions of realism,eliminativism and instrumentalism concerning memetics.Then,this paper provides a defense to the conceptual value of meme from a weak realistposition.