Memories

Then there's the relationship between memory and life history. Our memory is not like a videotape that can be played back on viewing screen of our minds. When an event happens to us, a selective impression of it is made on the brain through the senses. As that sense impression wends its way through different neural networks, where it ends up depends on what type of memory it is. As a memory is processed and prepared for long-term storage we rehearse it, and in the process it is changed. This editing process depends on previous memories, subsequent events and memories, and emotions. This process recurs trillions of times in the course of a lifetime, to the point where we have to wonder whether we have memories of actual events, or memories of the memories of those events, or even memories of memories of memories.... What's the "true" memory? There is no such thing. Our memories are the product of trillions of synaptic neuronal connections that are constantly being edited, redacted, reinforced, and extinguished, such that resurrection of a human with memories intact will depend on when in the individual's life history the replication or resurrection is implemented.

Most of our memories are lost over time, so when God, Omega, the Singularity, or far future Humans (GOSH) reconstruct the pattern of your memories, which ones actually represent you? The answer is none, some, and all. There is no coherently fixed individual in some absolute sense. Our self -- our soul -- consists of constantly changing matrix of traits and memory patterns that is coherent enough for us to feel that we have a self/soul, and for others to treat us as if we do, so a replicating entity must determine which set of patterns best represents our self/soul such that it would be recognizable to yourself and others. If GOSH resurrects you, for example, which of your memories will be included, and from which point in your life? If it is a select set of memories as some point, say age twenty-nine, that's not all of the memories you formed throughout your entire life, that might be interesting (and revealing!) but this would not be what it is like to be you at any point in your life. ~ Page 128/129