Susan Blackmore: Memes and "temes"

The talk explores the concept of memetics, founded on Universal Darwinism, which suggests that any information that is copied with variation and selection will produce design. Memes, as replicators, have influenced human evolution, leading to the development of large brains and cultural phenomena. The emergence of techno-memes, or temes, represents a new stage in evolution, potentially leading to a future where technology and humans merge. The talk also speculates on the existence of extraterrestrial life, suggesting that the presence of replicators, rather than intelligence, is key to communication with other civilizations.

What is the significance of the phrase 'we are the meme machines'?

How does the speaker suggest we might measure the number of communicative civilizations in the galaxy?

What does the speaker imply about the future of human evolution in relation to technology?

What are the potential dangers of the third replicator as discussed in the talk?