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Related Experiment Video

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Does Memory Modification Threaten Our Authenticity?

Alexandre Erler1

  • 1Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, Suite 8, Littlegate House, St Ebbes Street, Oxford, OX1 1PT UK.

Neuroethics
|October 18, 2011
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Memory modification technologies (MMTs) can threaten authenticity, particularly memory editing. While memory enhancement poses minimal risk, editing memories may lead to inauthentic lives by altering truthfulness and emotional responses to past events.

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Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Enhancement technologies raise concerns about living inauthentic lives.
  • Memory modification technologies (MMTs) present a unique challenge to authenticity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze scenarios where MMTs may lead to inauthentic lives.
  • To evaluate existing and propose new accounts of authenticity in relation to MMTs.
  • To distinguish between memory enhancement and memory editing regarding authenticity concerns.

Main Methods:

  • Description of four scenarios involving MMTs and inauthenticity.
  • Review of existing theories of authenticity.
  • Presentation of a "true self" account of authenticity.
  • Analysis of current and prospective MMTs (enhancement vs. editing).

Main Results:

  • Memory enhancement, by itself, does not inherently threaten authenticity.
  • Memory editing poses a significant threat to authenticity.
  • MMTs can lead to inauthenticity by compromising the truthfulness of memory and altering emotional responses to past events.

Conclusions:

  • Memory editing presents a greater risk to authenticity than memory enhancement.
  • Authenticity concerns related to MMTs can be addressed through a "true self" account, focusing on truthfulness and dispositional responses.
  • There are significant moral reasons to avoid MMTs that compromise authenticity.