On Memory

This thesis is an attempt to consider the central question in the philosophy of memory, ‘what is memory’. Specific topics examined are the prominent views on memory in philosophy, causation in memory, and the relationship between knowledge and memory. The received theories of memory, representative realism and direct realism, comes with their own set of problems. These problems are analysed in detail in this work. A view on memory which treats memory as a passive device is also examined. It is argued that memory is not a passive device, but it actively reconstructs the past. Causal theory of memory and other non-causal explanations are examined. It is argued that causal theory has an explanatory advantage over other theories. Trace theory, which has its base in neuropsychology, can be helpful in analysing causation and to answer some of the objections raised against representative realism and direct realism. The relationship between knowledge and memory is also analysed. It is argued that memory does not entail knowledge.