Episode Summary
Scott A. Small reading from Jorge Luis Borges’ Funes the Memorious, and discussing the physics, and metaphysics, of the mind.
What’s the clearest memory you have of something from a while ago? I’ve got a few flash moments that come to mind right away, but the truth is, I remember more of a feeling than I do the details, and I’m not even totally sure of the details I do remember. What if you remembered everything perfectly? Would that be amazing, or would it be onerous? My memory only gets dodgier day by day, as time ticks on. Sometimes I worry about it, and sometimes I remember that forgetting is one of the great adaptive strategies of life.
Dr. Scott A. Small is a brain mechanic; a physician who treats pathological memory disorders like Alzheimer’s, and helps people manage the terrible disease. He’s a man who celebrates the benefits of forgetting, so much that he even wrote a book about it.
Scott reads two pages from ‘Funes the Memorious’ by Jorge Luis Borges. [reading begins at 11:45]
Hear us discuss:
- The freedom of forgetting: “You have to forget to forgive.” [21:06]
- How to actively forget. [25:03]
- Sustaining precious memories: “We need our memories to be ourselves.” [27:27]
- Societal benefits of forgetting. [34:34]
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Resources:
Scott A. Small’s book | Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering
Jorge Luis Borges | Funes the Memorious
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