The Philosophical Dimensions of Memory in the Digital Era: Technology, Memory and Identity

The present study attempts to map out the philosophical concepts of memory and how these have changed with the march of advanced technology. Because digitization is gradually encroaching into every aspect of people’s private and professional lives, it is important to explore its implications for memory and personal identity- the concept of the authenticity of personal memories or ‘true self’. The study focuses on the transformation of internal to external memory storage and its implications for cognition and the brain. In the course of the analysis, the paper focuses on how collective memory is being democratized through archives and social media, and how algorithmization impacts memory discourses. Moreover, it also highlights ethical issues that are related to digital memories such as the privacy and right to be forgotten. Finally, using cognitive science, philosophy, and technology studies, the paper suggests a way to comprehend the shifting interplay between human memory and technology along with implications of the digital memory on the individual/societal self in the 21st century. Keywords: Cognitive processes, collective memory, digital memory, ethical concerns, external storage, personal identity