Memory is an important part of the definition of who we are. We base behaviors on our past experiences, there are thought schemes based on entire structures of memory, and ultimately a significant part of our interaction with the world is based on memory. That is why I would like to recommend a series of articles by William Salten, which has been published on the Slate website last week. The series reviews different aspects of human memory, how we use our memory, and how society uses it. How memory affects the legal system, how different bodies change our collective memory, how commercial companies manipulate our memories and medical parts - how memory limits us and who works on therapy by changing memories.
To quote Elizabeth Loftus, one of the most well-known memory scholars (and false memories):
"After we finish studying and know how to control artificial memories, we have to worry about who controls them, what barriers should we place on the police, lawyers or advertisers?" More than anything else, we must note that memories, just like rights, are fragile.
