I loved this old Hofstader article.

The process we use to think is also a constant building on top of ideas that have been useful so far, with a little variation.

We then keep the remixed things that turn out to be useful, and this compounds and builds on itself.

This is the process of "chunking" that allows significant and increasing leverage in the thoughts we can think.

The same process happens in society and within our minds.

The useful remixes are kept and built upon in a massive percolating, bottom-up, emergent sort.