Nathan Key

Is Our Identity Linked to Memory?

If so, then The Haitian character on Heroes has the ability to completely erase entire or selected memories from anyone he wishes- with a mere touch.

Descartes, as we know defined existence by the value of thought, not memory. He figured that even if he were simply a brain in a vat with false memories fed into him that he could at least argue his existence- even if the rest of reality were a lie. That said, we know that erasing memory doesn't erase existence. Even those "in the Matrix" exist, they simply don't understand the reality they live in.

But could removing a person's memory, in fact, erase that person's identity and character?

Perhaps this is why Alzheimer's patients seem like completely different people? Perhaps this is why memory loss in trauma victims can lead to personality changes?

But is it always a bad thing?

Remember Regarding Henry when Harrison Ford's character becomes a caring loving father who does what's right by his family instead of being a philanderer and "bleed 'em till they die" lawyer? His memory loss made him a better person.

There's a whole lot of questions that need to be answered when it comes to memory, identity, and philosophy. Here are a few...

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Questions for consideration:

1. Is there any memory that defines who YOU are? If you had the chance to remove it and be someone different would you choose to do so?

2. What if we could take away memories from hardened criminals, start them from scratch with a fresh start? Would you be willing to give them a second chance if you knew they had no way of knowing who they were and what they had done?

3. Are people who lose their memory still the same people they were prior to memory loss?

4. What about people who lose the ability to make and create new memories (think Memento or 50 First Dates)? Are they defined by who they were or who they are?

In the NBC show Heroes, there are a number of crazy philosophical questions that are raised within the nature of superpowers, good and evil, identity, time travel, human evolution, political conspiracy, and many many more.

Come by this week with questions and we'll talk about the show and what sort of problems exist within the world that Tim Kring has created.

Some potential topics:
Is our identity wrapped up in memories?
Does one man really have the right to decide what's best for all others?
Does Sylar have an evolutionary prerogative to kill?
Can Hiro really travel through time?
Are parents the people who birthed us or the people who raised us?