Is our self reducible to our memory?

Question

Not sure if the question is exactly the same, but it might help: do people having experienced total amnesia are "the same" as before?

sorry about the sloppy grammar...

Answer 1

First of all, I have to say that your picture of the "Screamer" is one of my favorites!!!

Now to try to answer your question. From the studies that I have read, if a person who has experienced total amnesia and it is permanent, the person will not be the same as they were before the amnesia because they don't have the memory of the life and experiences they had that made them the way they were to begin with.

Should the person have short-term amnesia, studies have shown that there is still some personality changes. For example: Say the person like Chocolate before the amnesia, after what ever caused the amnesia as in an accident, or virus on the brain, the person doesn't like Chocolate anymore, but prefers Vanilla or Strawberry.

It is a matter of Nuerons and Antons reconnecting with each other so the memories can be retrieved.

Here is a good link to understand amnesia more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesia

Answer 2

I recently wrote a paper on Locke's idea of the self for my modern philosoophy class. Locke would answer that a person is no longer the same "self" after a total loss of memory because a person must be able to personally connect their memories from experience to themselves. The post-amnesia person would be a different "self" because they cannot know their past actions and conciousness without relying on the accounts of others. I'm not sure about my own position on the issue, though.

Answer 3

i think the 2 questions address the same issue. total amnesia retains all the core learned skills like language, logical processes and so on, so maybe the 'self' is a composite of memories/experiences and (mental) skills, take away either one and you reduce the self - or possibly more importantly, it is the perception of a self by others that defines it, eg persistent vegatitive state - a brain full of memories without the skills (physical or mental) to actualise the essence of a self in others.
makes you think though!

Answer 4

The self is primarily based on experience, and memory is essential to that experience so I would say yes... Amnesiacs would be the same person but their personality would somewhat change- their innate qualities would remain the same though

Answer 5

well, in case of amnesia, i don't think that the person will be the same as before..
the person forgets his / her name, professions, education, family, places visited, ....etc., but not the speaking, walking, ... etc.
so the person is not like a new born baby, but still likely to lean new beliefs.

Answer 6

No. But You can reduce Yourself to anything.

Answer 7

My philosophy professor told me the answer, but I can't remember it.

Answer 8

It depends on who they were before