So They've Passed It On?

Chapter 11 introduced a whole new idea to my knowledge. I had no idea about memes or anything of the type. Dawkins says that there are things that are simply and purely known to everyone. Everyone knows them, and it doesn't need to be taught. This essentially means that we have some knowledge of everyone that has lived. “Once the genes have provided their survival machines with brains that are capable of rapid imitation, the memes will automatically take over.” (200) I'm sorry Dawkins, but I really can't quite believe that. How is it even possible that knowledge is automatically put into your brain? Only the person's thoughts can change the meme? I just can't get myself to understand how this works.

Aside from my belief, if this were true, it could revolutionize everything about humans. If there could be a way to pass on information from one generation to the next, there would simply be no point in learning because you would be born with the knowledge. Although this sounds like a great idea, I also have to consider what would happen with the world. If no kids went to school, businessman already knew the perfect way, and everything had already been done and known, there wouldn't even be a point of living. Part of life is to learn and experience things, but if one is born with all of the knowledge of the past generations, it would be like living with no excitement.