It is beyond any doubt that memory and remembering are among the most puzzling and characteristic features of man. Hence, they have been central philosophical and scientific objects throughout history. However, the interest in memory, particularly in biology and psychology, has increased enormously over the last two decades and is reflected by a vast number of new data and findings. In contrast to this scientific development, philosophical and conceptual analysis still remains comparatively unnoticed. This is especially remarkable if one considers the possible significance of empirical findings for classical philosophical problems like personhood, identity and self.
My thesis is therefore concerned with an in-depth analysis of philosophical problems related to memory and focuses on the relationship between memory and self as well as with the question of an adequate notion of “truth” in memory. The first introductory part will deal with fundamental philosophy of science related questions regarding aspects of memory such as the status of different memory systems and the relationship between philosophical and empirical accounts of memory. The second part broaches the issue of memory and self. Although this can be considered a classical topic of philosophy (e.g. in John Locke’s concept of person), the vast number of current empirical findings, for instance those that give detailed insight into the functioning of autobiographical memory, raises new puzzling questions: What makes autobiographical memory autobiographical? What are the implications of findings about delusion and construction of memory for concepts of person and self? What can be learned from traumatical disorders as regards stability and integrity of selves?
Finally, the third part investigates the notion of truth in memory. While the common sense view and many philosophical concepts are still more or less based on the classical storehouse metaphor of memory, it has been claimed from numerous empirical findings that this idea has to be substituted by purely constructivist explanations. Taking both positions into account, an outline of an adequate understanding of truth in memory will be given.
Studies of philosophy, medieval and modern history (master’s level) from 2002 to 2006 at the University of Bamberg as well as biology (bachelor’s level) from 2004 to 2006 at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Magister Artium (Master’s degree) in August 2006 with a M.A. thesis about the problem of teleology in philosophy and biology. From September 2006 to September 2007 research associate (“wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter”) at the Chair of Philosophy I at the University of Bamberg. Research and teaching includes philosophy of mind, philosophical anthropology, ethics and philosophy of science. Since October 2007 fellow of the post graduate programme in bioethics (full PhD scholarship from the “German Research Foundation” (DFG)) at the Interdepartmental Centre for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW) and associate lecturer (“Lehrbeauftragter”) at the Chair of Philosophy I at the University of Bamberg.
michael.jungert[at]izew.uni-tuebingen.de
