Intracranial memetics and intercranial memetics

Intracranial memetics is the subfield of memetics that deals with the dynamics of ideas and memes inside a single mind. Memes and ideas compete with other memes and ideas inside minds. Intracranial memetics studies these dynamics - and the other forces on memes while they are inside minds.

Intercranial memetics is the subfield of memetics that deals with the dynamics of memes between minds. It covers interactions between memes and their environment while the memes are not inside minds.

The dynamics of intercranial memetics and intracranial memetics have some differences - because the environments involved are very different.

Intracranial memetics

Intracranial memetics deals with memes inside a single mind. The memes compete with other memes for space and attention. They also compete with protomemes and other ideas for resources. Intracranial memetics deals with these dynamics.

Intercranial memetics

Intercranial memetics ideals with memes when they are between minds. Many of the selective forces that act on memes do so while they are not inside human minds. Many memes can be copied without being inside minds. They can also be destroyed, damaged, put into storage and transported around. Intercranial memetics deals with these dynamics.

Misc

There's a nice Linus Pauling quote that refers to intracranial memetics:

The way to get good ideas, is to get lots of ideas and throw the bad ones away.

Martine Rothblatt's idea of "bemes" also relates to intracranial memetics.

References

• Tyler, Tim (2008) Intracranial Memetics.