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Single Idea 5666

[filed under theme 16. Persons / D. Continuity of the Self / 2. Mental Continuity / a. Memory is Self ]

Full Idea

Not every experience can be remembered; otherwise each piece of remembering, which is itself an experience, would have to be remembered, and each remembering of a remembering and so ad infinitum.

Gist of Idea

Not all exerience can be remembered, as this would produce an infinite regress

Source

A.J. Ayer (The Concept of a Person [1963], §IV)

Book Ref

Ayer,A.J.: 'The Concept of a Person etc' [Macmillan 1973], p.114


A Reaction

See Idea 5667. Ayer takes for granted two sorts of consciousness - current awareness, and memory. Ayer brings out a nice difficulty for Locke's proposal, but also draws attention to what may be a very basic misunderstanding about the mind.

Related Idea