To begin with, recent studies show that memory can be manipulated, consciously and unconsciously. This not only adds a question mark to the certainty of witnesses, but to every day life as well.

Of course, there is undoubtedly no question concerning the main parts of the memory, more likely the details. But in order to discuss time, which I will do after this, a brief debate about memory is in order.

In theoretical philosophy, uncertain memory is quite a valuable piece of information. For whereas philosophy questions existence, but cannot question one’s own existence, if your memories would be imaginary, it would allow for some serious toying with your mind.

However, to stay in touch with reality, it is highly doubtful that memory would be made up in any larger sense. With the invention of writing and similar physical memories, it is quite obvious that what you remember is largely related to the rest of the sense-data we perceive as the physical world.

It is thus rather a question of however the rest of the world exists, than whether your memories about it are true. However, we should be doubtful concerning the details of our memories. Over time, memories fade and quite often change. More >