Memory and Remembering

This Element surveys research on three central and interrelated issues about the nature of memory and remembering, including the nature of memory as a cognitive faculty, what memory does, and the nature of what we remember. Philosophers disagree on how to characterize remembering and whether the function of memory is to remember.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 88 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This Element surveys research on three central and interrelated issues about the nature of memory and remembering. The first is about the nature of memory as a cognitive faculty. This part discusses different strategies to distinguish memory from other cognitive faculties as well as different proposed taxonomies to differentiate distinct kinds of memory. The second issue concerns what memory does, which is traditionally thought to have a simple answer: remembering. As it turns out, philosophers not only disagree as to how to characterize remembering but also whether the function of memory is indeed to remember. Finally, the third issue is about the nature of what we remember, a question that may refer to the object of our memories but also to their content, with different views disagreeing on how to characterize the relationship between the two.

The nature of memory as a cognitive faculty is a complex and multifaceted topic that has been the subject of much research and debate. One of the key questions in this field is how to distinguish memory from other cognitive faculties, such as attention, perception, and language. There are several strategies that have been proposed to accomplish this, including functionalism, which argues that memory is a specialized system for storing and retrieving information, and cognitive psychology, which emphasizes the role of mental processes and structures in memory.

Another issue that is closely related to the nature of memory is what memory does. Traditionally, it has been thought that the primary function of memory is to remember information. However, philosophers have disagreed about whether this is indeed the case. Some argue that memory is primarily a tool for organizing and consolidating information, while others suggest that it has a more complex function, such as helping us to make sense of our experiences and to develop our identities.

Finally, there is the question of the nature of what we remember. This can refer to both the object of our memories (e.g., a specific event or person) and their content (e.g., the details of that event or person). Different views have been proposed about the relationship between these two aspects of memory, with some arguing that they are separate and independent, while others suggest that they are closely intertwined.

Overall, the study of the nature of memory and remembering is a rich and complex field that continues to yield new insights and discoveries. By exploring these three central issues, researchers can better understand the role of memory in our cognitive and emotional lives and how it can be improved and enhanced.

ISBN-13: 9781108958042