Symbiotic Information Organisms
Symbiotic Information Organisms Abstract Ideas, ideologies, religions, and belief systems can be understood as “symbiotic information organisms” – non-material yet organized structures of information that use human minds as their hosts. This thesis explores the notion that such information systems behave as if alive or sentient , exerting influence and pursuing their own survival and propagation through the human individuals and societies they inhabit. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives – from Richard Dawkins’ concept of memes and cultural evolution, Daniel Dennett’s theories of consciousness and idea propagation, Michel Foucault’s analysis of discourse and power, Carl Jung’s archetypal psychology, to Yuval Noah Harari’s insights on collective myths – we examine how these “living” idea-systems form, spread, and impact domains including politics, religion, warfare, public discourse, and personal identity. We review literature and integrate insights from both scholarly s...