Why do we remember? Why do we forget?

[jamccarn (Alex M)]

Hello all. Do you have any ideas on why we remember concepts, ideas, speeches, poems, names. decks of cards, etc.? Not the techniques themselves, but rather why we have something called memory? There are neurobiologists and other scientists who delve into the how. However, I wonder if there are any philosophers of memory to whom you can refer me.
Thank you all.

[NekroFernus (Олег)]

We cannot forget. We can lose access to information that has been stored in the brain. Neural connections. A strong connection is remembering, a weak connection is remembering a little (conventionally). And since our memory is perfect in this sense, the right stimulus produces the right response (information).

You also have to trust our brain more, remember that).
It filters information, for example, you won’t remember people on the subway/train/street only if you haven’t given them much thought. It’s always different.
If we remembered everything around us - the clutter was big, even though our memory capacity is gigantic! I think that’s what energy consumption is all about.
There’s also the weight of the image = it’s the energy of representing the object + refining it in the imagination. The heavier the image, the more energy is spent on it.

The imagination does the refinement (imagine an engine in section)
A light image is an engine from under the bonnet. Less energy - faster recall.

And why do we remember it all? Probably because the brain operates with images. We, by nature, are not good at remembering precise data, especially when there is a lot of it. Yes, we do remember (without mnemonics), but there is no response from them as from an image, so it is harder. My guess.

[jamccarn (Alex M)]

Thanks. An interesting take on the question. I suppose we could also discuss personal episodic memory, such as “Where did I put my eyeglasses?” or “What is the French expression for, ‘May I have a cup of coffee, please?’” Perhaps looking at collective or social memory, such as “Where were you when the Twin Towers fell?” Or, “Do you remember The Beverly Hillbillies character Jethro Bodine?”

[jamccarn (Alex M)]

Thanks for responding. Do we have a duty to remember events? Do we have a choice or an option to forget unpleasant (to us) events?
I suppose there is a moral philosophy of memory, a metaphysics of memory, an epistemology of memory. However, a basal philosophical theory of memory (why memory?) could be helpful. Such theories likely exist from Aristotle onward (at least in the Euro-centric classical philosophies.) As for other traditions (Indigenous, Oral, songlines, wampum, etc.) perhaps scholars like @LynneKelly or other social scientists and historians of memory can assist us with the why and wherefore of human memory.

[LynneKelly]

@jamccarn

As for other traditions (Indigenous, Oral, songlines, wampum, etc.) perhaps scholars like @LynneKelly or other social scientists and historians of memory can assist us with the why and wherefore of human memory.

I’d love to help but I’m not much good on philosophy. I can’t see how we could function without memory. I am more pragmatist than philosopher: memory is what we need for survival and identity. But I am sure a philosophical type could do much more with your question.

I look forward to their reply. Or replies.

Lynne

[NekroFernus (Олег)]

@jamccarn

Thanks for responding. Do we have a duty to remember events? Do we have a choice or an option to forget unpleasant (to us) events?
I suppose there is a moral philosophy of memory, a metaphysics of memory, an epistemology of memory. However, a basal philosophical theory of memory (why memory?) could be helpful. Such theories likely exist from Aristotle onward (at least in the Euro-centric classical philosophies.) As for other traditions (Indigenous, Oral, songlines, wampum, etc.) perhaps scholars like @LynneKelly or other social scientists and historians of memory can assist us with the why and wherefore of human memory.

(Almost) all events are always in our minds. We can loosen the connection to them (or what is called “forgetting”) intentionally or by ourselves. Memory, the brain and the living organism system are among the wonders of this world. All I can say is that those who invented alphabets and the alphabet - discovered/created mnemonics.

After all, a word is also a mnemonic. A word, a sentence, a text - a way of transmitting information through images.

A black cat is sitting on the table - you have just imagined it.
It’s quite an interesting topic and I think someone should do a scientific study.

The conclusion is that the origins of memory must be sought in very ancient times, when someone invented sounds, the alphabet, etc. And we always have a choice, because human has free will and is the master of his own destiny

[MMScotofGlasgow]

@NekroFernus

It’s quite an interesting topic and I think someone should do a scientific study.

Chomsky did. Among thousands of others, but he’s the go to name

Mm

[zvuv]

@jamccarn

why we have something called memory?

I really fail to see the mystery. For a creature to learn it must be able to retain new information. How would you learn to speak without a memory? How would you train a dog? This is a survival adaptation that we have developed.

As for speeches etc oral history and stories are the way cultural knowledge was packaged so that we could share and transmit what we know as a culture .