Okay, heres a good one, How do we know our memories are real? how do I really went to a friends house today? How will I know in the future that I asked this question? How will you know for sure that you answered this the day after? In short; How do we know?
I've asked this before, please dont answer if you have already answered it when I asked earlier.
2007-09-25 13:33:03 · 15 answers · asked by Patrick 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Okay, just to clarify, I AM a Christian. Feel free to say whatever, but be careful when your talking about God. (Im not gonna mention any names tho.)
2007-09-25 13:44:07 · update #1
Memories are as real as they are to the people who have them. Except for someone who has amnesia, we all have memories. I won't bore you with scientific jargon, but you surely know that all our memories are stored--or collected--like a trail of multi-coloured stones.
You "know" you went to your friend's house, because the reality is in your memory bank. Important, & fascinating is the "selectivity" of people's memories, (intentionally or not). Some memories are brought out frequently as things we "wish" to remember. Some may be dormant for years, or even forever as a part of our subconscious protects us by filtering them out. Over time, our memories may also become "rhapsodies on a theme of"--or "dirges on a theme of"--as in music. They aren't lies; they've simply transformed.
As I'm typing my answer, each key stroke & thought has already become a memory.
If someone wants to give you a link, or an extended explanation of how memory "works," they're most welcome!
Edit: I need to comment here--that one cannot "confirm" one's memory by the memory of someone who was "there."
We remember differently. Think of the witnesses to a crime who saw different coloured cars, faces, virtually nothing in agreement with one another. Still, there is no right or wrong in the way that YOU remember.
2007-09-25 16:24:00 · answer #1 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Memories are real to those they belong to. We could all experience the same exact thing in the same way at the same time and yet remember it differently. If we all have a different memory, does that mean that it never actually took place because no memory of the event was the same? My answer would be that yes....it took place.
2007-09-25 20:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by Jenny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a skeptic, then the answer is no.
I, however, believe my memories are real and don't need any proof.
A nice proof, however, would be to ask somebody you were with at the time if he remembers as you do. Then again, it would still rest on memories, but at least there would be two confirmations of the reality.
2007-09-25 20:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Georgi K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hehehe. It really -is- the ultimate, unarguable question. Our memories are 'stored' as minute electrical charges circulating within the neural synapses of our brains. How can we know that they've actually happened or not? (Can you say "Total Recall?" or "Bladerunner"?)
And, if you're gonna believe in a 'God', how about a -really-
kick-αss 'God' who created the Universe, as well as us and all of our memories and books and religious works and all the rest of it, just 10 minutes ago? (Xtians get -reall- pissed when I argue that one for a truly omniscient Diety âº)
Now a 'God' like that would have some real juice âº
Doug
2007-09-25 20:40:58 · answer #4 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
unless u have a memory lost, yes our memories are real as long as u keep living u will have a present ,future ,and a past your memories are a past exist, previous experiences of living the mind will retain / recall mental impression.
2007-09-25 20:55:59 · answer #5 · answered by charie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard that the most accurate memory is the memory most freshly recounted.... Weird huh? So, that story you tell over and over to your friends about how "you two met" has been embellished a little here and there.
2007-09-25 23:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by tiffguam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heres how you know...If you are a normal person, your memories are real. If you are crazy, then your memories are probably not real.
2007-09-25 20:39:32 · answer #7 · answered by Peilthetraveler 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its like kaufman's eternal sunshine of the spotless mind ...? memories are real for me because i lived in that moment. i guess living become memories after i experiencing ...
2007-09-25 20:40:08 · answer #8 · answered by viola_alias 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no.
Yes they are real to us.
No they are not provable to anyone else just based on our say so.
It's all relative.
2007-09-25 20:46:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes they are real, the past exist beacuse of our memos
2007-09-25 20:40:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋