Related questions:
v Discuss the various types of memory and their epistemological relevance.
v What is memory? Is it a source of knowledge?
INTRODUCTION
There is no doubt that “memory” plays an important role in man’s acquisition of knowledge. However, its level of importance, as regards it being a source of knowledge, is the business of this write-up. Also, the various types of memory and their epistemological relevance would be considered.
WHAT IS “MEMORY”
In simple terms, memory can be defined in the following ways; Memory is;
· The mind’s recorder of events and activities
· The storage or storehouse of the mind
· The faculty for remembrance, retention and records
· The mind’s systematic reflection of the past
TYPES OF MEMORY
The major types of memory are highlighted thus;
i. Factual memory
ii. Perceptual memory
iii. Occurent memory
iv. Habitual memory
i. Factual memory
This is the part of the memory which records knowledge, truth or already existing phenomenon. For example; information such as “...feeding is vital for the survival of living things” is recorded in our factual memory; for it is what we all know.
ii. Perceptual memory
This is that part of the memory which comes into play when one becomes aware of something or notices a thing. Here, knowledge of the object is unnecessary as one only is aware of how the object looks like, feels or smells, sounds or tastes, even though one may not really know what the object in question is. For example; statements like “...I do not know what this is, but I think I’ve seen it before” are expressions of our perceptual memory.
iii. Occurent memory
This is that part of the memory which becomes active when one is practically experiencing a process, incident or event, and thus records and stores, as well as replays the information when needed. For example; “an old soldier retelling the political happenings during the civil war in his youthful days” is expressing his Occurent memory.
iv. Habitual memory
This is the part of the memory which records the way and manner by which a thing is done i.e. the status quo or modus operandi of a thing, and consistently aids one in the pragmatic application of same. For example; “the act of driving a car or operating a machine” stems from our habitual memory.
IS MEMORY A SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE
This philosophical question leads us to evaluating the epistemological relevance of the various types of memory. But, before we progress further, we must first consider the meaning of the word “source”. The word “source” has two closely related but different meanings. Its first meaning, which represents its etymological meaning, says;
· “Source” represents a place or platform from which a thing originates (comes from).
Secondly,
· “Source” represents a place or platform from which a thing is obtained or extracted (like a bank).
Now, considering these two meanings; in the first sense, which is the original sense of the word, memory is not a source of knowledge as knowledge originates from our existential universe and the world around us. However, in the second supporting sense of the word, memory is, or can be referred to as a source of knowledge. This is because, it acts basically as a storage house of the mind, from which information can be extracted or obtained when needed.
Having understood this analysis, let us see if all four types of memory discussed, qualifies truly as a source of knowledge in the second sense of the word “source” – a platform from which a thing can be obtained or extracted.
THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL RELEVANCE OF MEMORY
Analysing how or how not the various memories we have, are sources of knowledge, leads us invariably to examining their epistemological relevance.
Is “Factual memory” a platform from which knowledge can be extracted? Definitely, since factual memory records knowledge, truth or already existing phenomena; it is a source (extraction platform) of knowledge.
Is “Perceptual memory” a platform from which knowledge can be extracted? Well, this type of memory is active when one becomes aware of something or notices a thing. But, it is possible to notice a thing which one knows nothing about. Thus, perceptual memory is not a source (not an extraction platform) of knowledge.
Is “Occurent memory” a platform from which knowledge can be extracted? Likewise, this type of memory is active when one practically experiences an incident, event or process. But, it is possible to experience an incident and not know what it signifies. For example, a good man befallen by calamity begins to wonder what he has done wrong (E.g. Job in the bible). Thus, Occurent memory is not a source of knowledge.
Is “Habitual memory” a platform from which knowledge can be extracted? This type of memory records the way and manner by which a thing is done or perpetuated. Thus, it consistently teaches one how to perform a task. So, Habitual memory is a source (extraction platform) of knowledge.
(YOUR PERSONAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR CRITICISM)
CONCLUSION
Aside the fact that, memory fails to be a source of knowledge in the etymological sense of the word “source”, it still fails to be a source of knowledge (although partially) in the extraction sense of the word “source”; as “factual” and “habitual” memory are sources of knowledge, while “perceptual” and “Occurent” memory are not reliable sources of knowledge.
