Memory Theory

I discussed theories of personal identities yesterday. Today I  go with LIFO principle.  So by that principle, I start with Memory theory first. My personal reason for that is

•  I am familiar with John Locke’s work.  ( When I say familiar, I mean I have heard his name and researched a bit about his work during my write up on Social Contract) 
•  It is a theory that resonates, well so does  body theory, but that would be a random pick and this would be rational and hence obvious.
•  I could find more connections to technology, size and AI, which is another area that I find fascinating through this

Disclaimer : This is my understanding of the theory and an attempt to present an outlook. 

Definition

Locke suggests that the self is “a thinking intelligent being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places” and continues to define personal identity simply as “the sameness of a rational being” (Locke). John Locke 

Interpretation

We are what we experience. We are what we think we experience. We are our memories. When we sleep tonight, the bits and pieces and our interpretation of what we remember the next morning makes our identity.  Since the time we start to remember to the time we die, we are nothing but our interpretation of life events. That is possibly one reason why Locke believed our conscious or memory to be a binding agent that holds our identity together.

Another aspect of it that I would like to see and understand is what if we are able to transfer our memories. Would that mean our identity transfers?  As scientist work with increasing the lifespan, the question of identity transference isn’t far away.

What I read there is a certain amount of criticism to this theory as well. If we determine our identity from our memory, does that mean we did not have an identity before our first memory?  My first memory of myself is when I was 5 years. Or what about my father’s situation who suffered from dementia, or amnesia or Alzheimer’s or any memory-related issue.

What about the emotional aspect?  The limbic brain that makes us so culpable also makes us stand apart. It is a signature style.  

Memory Theory makes sense, obviously because I am a rational human being and it is supposed to make sense. But to reach a final conclusion of what personal identity really means, let us wait for all theories.

Till then keep your feedback coming.