What is a "Virus of the Mind?" By: Ronald F. White, Ph.D.

Back in 2009, Richard Brodie published a highly popular book: Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme. The over-riding theme was that "memes" (or ideas) evolve over time, based on the evolutionary principles of replication, variation, and selection. Over time, some "ideas" are progressive, and therefore, increase human happiness and/or survival, others are regressive and therefore, decrease human happiness and/or survival, and other ideas maintain the status quo. Viruses of the mind decrease individual and group survival. In all societies, authorities influence the viral status of ideas, especially: religious authorities, scientific authorities, and political authorities. Today, the emergence of the most contagious viruses of the mind are media-driven and exhibit variable degrees of "toxicity," and "contagion" among the most and "vulverable populations." Viruses of the mind emerge, spread, and/or suffer extinction within various social and/or political environments. And, some individuals and groups financially benefit from the emergence, and contagion, of viruses of the mind, especially media conglomerates, journalists, psychiatrists, and physicians. All "viruses of the mind" can be evaluated by anticipating their short-term and long-term consequences for various populations: local, state, regional, national, and global. Historically, some viruses of the mind have long resisted anti-viral treatments and/or cures, including: racism, sexism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, and war. In this blog, I will argue that the most toxic ideas emerge, spread, and ultimately treated and/or cured by the ever-growing influence of the mass media; perhaps even Christmas. Recall from my earlier blogs that "Human Inquiry" is the human process of raising questions and posing answers within both individual minds and collective minds. Good ideas cannot (by definition) be viruses; although their viral status is often subject to debate, over time, within and between inquiring communities. "Evolutionary Epistemologists" are philosophers who argue that human inquiry evolves or devolves over time. Some epistemologists are Scientific Realists, and therefore argue that scientific inquiry evolves toward the the ultimate truth; and that over time scientists get closer and closer to acquiring "Factual Knowledge." Skeptics argue that there is no "ultimate truth" and that both scientific and non-scientific inquiry changes over time, but does not progress toward Ultimate Truth. At best, Truth is contextual and therefore relative to both time and place. Pragmatists argue that the goal of science is not to accumulate Timeless Truth, but to increase individual and social good within various communities. As those communities change over time, the social utility of those theories also changes...sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. Viruses of the mind replicate within specific inquiring communities. Some viruses are embedded in the status quo for long periods of time, while others are treated and or cured. Some skeptics argue that Christmas is a highly toxic virus of the mind that has invaded the original idea; a virus has been replicated, inter-generationally, by parents, the mass media, and corporations via Christmas Carols, Christmas Movies, Christmas Meals, and Christmas Shopping. Santa Claus is portrayed as an old, fat, white man, with a white beard and a red suit. Children are told that on Christmas eve, Santa flies around the world on a sleigh propelled by flying reindeer, and that he lands on rooftops, climbs down chimnies, and delivers gifts. So what do you think? Are Christmas and/or Santa Claus "viruses of the mind," for at least some communities? Explain.

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