Crisis of the Mind! (Reflections on Intro)

Is there really such thing as “freedom of thought”? Or is some force bigger than myself manipulating my thinking, my consciousness?  Is there such thing as “original thinking”? And if so, where do such thoughts come from anyway?  Are we really that creative in our thinking, or are we picking up “mind viruses” unconsciously?

Consciousness, awareness, self-actualization are all topics that have fascinated me for most of my life.  What is it that makes me truly aware?  What does awareness even mean? Well, I think I am about to crack this nut for myself, and I have found it in this book!!  I feel like I have just started a fascinating journey into the science of my mind and ultimately my self.

So, as I embark upon the introduction, titled “Crisis of the Mind,” I am immediately faced with learning a new scientific term called “memetics.”  In a nutshell, memetics is the science of the meme, which is the science of the evolution of the mind.  So, just like a gene is to the science of biology, the meme is to the science of the mind.  Evolutionary psychological theory is paving the way for this fascinating new world of memetics – to better understand the way people think, how we learn, grow, AND how culture evolves and progresses.

So what?  Why should I care about memes or memetics?  Why can’t I just live my life and be happy and free?  Because we are not truly free as long as memes are controlling what we think!  Richard Brodie, author of this book, makes this profound comment:
“…I also believe that people who understand memetics will have an increasing advantage in life, especially in preventing themselves from being manipulated or taken advantage of.” (p. xiv)

And then this amazing comment on the same page:
“This is the most surprising and most profound insight from the science of memetics: your thoughts are not always your own original ideas.”

I had an intuitive nudge this was true.  In fact as a child I remember wanting to write songs, and then becoming discouraged with this bizarre thought: all the original song ideas will be used up by the time I get a chance to write a song.  Now, fortunately I understand that ideas are not really “used up,” but rather they are recycled, regurgitated, re-presented in multiple ways.  I have heard that a person needs to hear something at least seven times before they start actually believing it.  Maybe this has to do with the strength of the idea’s meme and how the idea has been recycled and re-presented?

As I read this introductory chapter, I realize shockingly that there really is no freedom of thought as long as we succumb to the millions of “viruses of the mind” that are out there.  Brodie says that viruses of the mind have been evolving ever since humans began roaming the earth.  What are viruses of the mind?
“They are infectious pieces of our culture that spread rapidly throughout a population, altering people’s thoughts and lives in their wake.” (p. xiv)

Viruses of the mind can be quite benign such as fashion trends (think leg warmers – wait – I said benign!  Hmm….), the latest slang phrases, Facebook, or the Green Movement.  However, there are virulent strains of mind viruses that infect us with ideas that can hurt us like the attraction for kids to join youth gangs, the overemphasis on consumerism, invitations to join religious cults…and more.  Brodie asserts: “…viruses of the mind can program us to think and behave in ways that are destructive to our lives.” (p. xiv).

Whoa!  This is serious business!  So, I am thinking, “Why do we not have classes in memetics at school?”  Just think how learning about the way our mind works could truly empower students and help them become conscious at an early age.  This has profound implications for educating our nation’s young minds!

I spend much of my professional life as an education consultant in schools. And as much as I see enthusiastic young learners, just as often (if not more), I see bored, disengaged students who have average to minimal buy-in to their classroom learning.  I often come away from my experiences there thinking, “How can we engage students more so that they are empowered and have ownership of their learning?”  What tools and skills can we gift our students so that they have a sense of purpose, meaning and self-confidence?

I am beginning to think that the study of memetics might be a step in the right direction toward this goal.  In fact, helping students learn ways to fend off dangerous viruses of the mind that direct them in ways they don’t really want to go, and conversely to choose empowering memes that support their purpose and values in life — this might be one of the most important strategies we can employ to educate our youth.  We are forming our future NOW in our young people.  We need an innovative approach to educational reform that transforms and builds consciousness for everyone – students, teachers, parents, community members, and educational leaders.  Is the Crisis of the Mind a contributing factor in our nation’s crisis in education?  Memetics could well be a critical piece of the educational reform puzzle.

Here is a final quote that really summarizes the possibilities for memetics:
“Memetics gives us the knowledge and power to direct our own evolution more than we’ve done at any time in history.  Now that we have that power, what will we do with it?” (p. xvii)

Okay, Brodie, I am thoroughly hooked into your Virus of the Mind thesis, and I am ready to dive into the next chapter.  Bring on the “Memes.”
–  By Christy Reveles
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VISIT THE EVOLVING NEW CMN WEBSITE AT: www.consciousmeme.com