In the novelette “The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling,” Ted Chiang evaluates the knowledge-related pros and cons of a hypothetical technology, “Remem.” This technology allows quick search and retrieval from the continuous video of their entire lives that people can get by wearing personal cameras. Thus, it enables people to “remember” almost all of their experiences with perfect fidelity. In this chapter, I discuss how philosophers have recently engaged in the same sort of evaluative project with respect to many actual technologies, such as smartphones, social media, and the internet. They have raised concerns about these technologies that are very similar to Chiang’s concerns about Remem. I disagree with these pessimistic assessments and argue that, on balance, these technologies, including Remem, are likely to be beneficial.

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We Can Remember It for You Better: Ted Chiang on Technology and Human Knowledge

  • Don Fallis

摘要

In the novelette “The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling,” Ted Chiang evaluates the knowledge-related pros and cons of a hypothetical technology, “Remem.” This technology allows quick search and retrieval from the continuous video of their entire lives that people can get by wearing personal cameras. Thus, it enables people to “remember” almost all of their experiences with perfect fidelity. In this chapter, I discuss how philosophers have recently engaged in the same sort of evaluative project with respect to many actual technologies, such as smartphones, social media, and the internet. They have raised concerns about these technologies that are very similar to Chiang’s concerns about Remem. I disagree with these pessimistic assessments and argue that, on balance, these technologies, including Remem, are likely to be beneficial.