That we are in a sense being used by information in the same way it can be said that we and other lifeforms are used by their DNA.
Yep, that's part of what the Selfish Gene is about. If you have time, read it, it's interesting and nothing to do with the anti-religious stuff Dawkins is famous for now.
But in way that's exactly what is being suggested here - that the process of evolution in humans has moved into the cultural realm.
I would like to draw a distinction betwen genetic evolution and other developments in human society. I think a distinction between us a most (perhaps all) animals is that we can behave in ways that are not genetically determined (ie pure instinct) but can improvise more. I don't think we get mortgages and mobile phones because it's in our genes.
I'm just trying to make that distinction clear for the sake of a more productive discussion!
The fact that many of our cultural activities would seem to be counter to the survival of the species would indicate that maybe the imperative actually lies elsewhere? So, the DNA doesn't really care about us, and neither does the info-sphere. Just a thought really.
On the contrary, the DNA "wants" us to survive so that more DNA is reproduced. We are machines for copying genes. As we get more intelligent, we become more successful at surviving and reproducing more and more.
However we are now sufficiently complex that we can behave in ways which are counter to the reproduction of our genes.
What this will mean in the future is hard to say, perhaps the level of intelligence we have reached is counterproductive in terms of genetic reproduction and we will destroy ourselves, and another genetic type will become dominant. Or perhaps the high intelligence of humankind will allow it to find a solution to the problems is has created.
Is culture really such a different process to evolution?
There are parallels but for a meaningful conversation that involves both, it's important and useful to make the distinction.
the linking factor between genes and culture is information and we do not embody the information - it kind of uses us.
genes are stored information for making an organism (us) that is capable of reproducing those genes. the reproduced genes can then make more organisms etc etc.
genes do not "use us" or have any thoughts or desires, they are just a set of instructions.
importantly, these instructions do not make any sense outside of the organism, you can't just leave dna lying around and expect people to spring up. there is a "chicken and egg type of situation between creatures and their genes.
I don't know - but I do think it's interesting and useful to look at the condition of our world in those terms. What the fuck are we doing and why? CUI BONO?
i quite agree!