Aaron McDaid

We're generally accustomed to the idea of evolution by natural selection of DNA and genes. We are simply machines to help our sperm and eggs to copy their data into the next generation. Or are we? Why do many people die, childless, for a political or religious idea? Our brains use our mouths to try to copy ideas from one brain to another, the obvious examples being political or religious ideas. There is a symmetry between our brains and our sex organs - each tries to take advantage of the other to advance their own copying. Nature obviously chooses the genes that are best at replicating themselves. But the same is true of memes; why else do we want to 'win the argument'? It probably explains why I'm writing this piece! Winners of arguments are helping the meme to replicate, and may be actually harming their genes' prospects.