The Mandela Effect: An Epistemological Critique and a Proposed Generational Wave Theory

This paper addresses the Mandela Effect as an epistemological problem that challenges classical material models of memory and perception. It critiques the limitations of the "collective false memory" hypothesis in explaining the precise agreement of details among millions of individuals. The paper proposes an alternative model based on the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, suggesting that human consciousness may retain "residual memory" from neighboring timelines during qualitative shifts. This framework explains why changes are limited to small details and introduces the "Law of Perceptual Selectivity."Additionally, a proposed theoretical design is presented for studying the effect as "Generational Memory Waves" using three age cohorts: 15, 30, and 50 years old. The paper hypothesizes that each generation may exhibit a distinct pattern of false memory, while some false memories may also be shared across generations.This article does not claim to possess the truth, but rather is an attempt to understand a strange phenomenon that has puzzled many people.