Memes are information, which has a particular kind of
numerical identity: the *same* item of information can
and does exist in more than one place, at one time. Or
rather, instances of it do. "Information" derives
from "form" (see http://www.faichney.org/synthesis/infomat/)
and items of information are not material things, but
shapes. You and I can both possess different copies of
the *same* book. There's no trick to that usage -- it's
perfectly straightforward. Because information is
basically form, it is *not* matter, and therefore need
not and in fact cannot be pinned down to any particular
location. Memes do not reside within the brain -- which
is not to say that there isn't *something* in the
patterns of neural activity that corresponds to the
hosting of a particular meme -- but the levels of
description of neural activity and of memetics are so
far apart that I'm rather sceptical about significant
correlations ever being found. And meanwhile, some of us
can be looking at cultural artifacts, which are quite
good evidence of behaviour, which is precisely the same
level of description as memetics. Two people whistling
the same tune, host the same meme, no doubt whatsoever.
-- Robin