Materiality of Deletion

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought”

… and so: “Targeted memory erasure and enhancement may be possible,” says neuroscientist Andre Fenton in response to that Guatama Siddharta quote.

This lecture appears to be part of a series on The Future of Hope. This explains why the talk focuses on the benefits of biomedical memory erasure to human mental development and defense against degenerative diseases as opposed to the possible problems.

The banner on the podium left me thinking of the cosmetic nature of this future practice. Cosmetics is about appearance and the treatments used to shape and maintain it. Those that seek cosmetic treatment usually submit themselves as the subject of appearance modification.

If neuroscience will indeed find a future on the cosmetic shelf, what forms then of ourselves will we fashion by it? Would we use neuroscience to design positive memories about ourselves and those we desire to value?

Fashionable memories of our own self image. If that is indeed the future, perhaps then all that we are is the result of what we have thought of ourselves.

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