What type of memory does identity need?

Whilst the quote focuses on the human memory as a means to create personal identity, the question to be looked at is “What types of memory do we have”, and “what do these memory type mean for identity?”

The types of memory we have is somewhat easier to break out and explore, in fact so are the types of identity. The core of this article is the thinking about complexity that arises when we explore the interaction between memory and identity. This is very much a thought piece that needs lots of debate, I hope this starts it.

Memory

Before we go to far, it is worth reading the wikipedia entry on all memory as it breaks out the many uses of the word in different contexts.

Nature has a wide variety of memory techniques, but none of the naturally occurring ones are similar to the one we propose to create for digital identity (near perfect). Our existing paper identity systems are closer to nature than the digital one we propose; existing schemes generally get worse over time, solve one issue and have significant functional gaps. Nature's memory tends to be imperfect (corrupt) and often has little relationship to what actually happened. As a way of framing, consider these:

1. DNA. In reality you don’t have a copy of either of your parents, and what you do have is very different. Short term (generational) has some memory for features and somehow the coding provides for long term benefits to rise to the top. But you don’t get any memory on how to survive without others. Whist changes in DNA happen during your life, it is the memory function that is interesting in this context and it is certainly not perfect.
2. Cell birth (mitosis). One cell becomes two, which are identical apart from the coding in one of the new ones does go wrong quite often, leading to cancers, growths and other unwanted outcomes. The cell data (memory) is replicated but it is far from perfect.
3. Physics and paths. We know that the planets are on paths are determined by Kepler Laws and Einstein's general theory of relativity, and not newtons laws. If we look at the paths planets and galaxies have, they appear to have a memory. The moon goes round the earth, the earth goes round the sun and so on. These paths are what appears to be a “memory.” The laws of physics appear to be a super long term memory, but it never repeats or ever the same.
4. Art, music, books and stories. These provide a massively important aspect of human history, thinking, growth and memory. They allow us to pass on warnings, ethics, morals, joy and much more based on learning. However, art is biased to a context specific political story, music is often taken out of context to what the writer intended and we have no idea what Shakespere actually thought or intended when he wrote his works. Stories, by definition, lack accuracy and are open to interruption. Art, music, books and stories have memory, even repeatable but not a reliable one and are easily modified/ destroyed.
5. Culture. What exactly is “doing the right thing”, why is this song a Christmas anthem. Culture is a memory passed down but it is highly unstable and is changed overnight by significant events. The memory is easily modified, sometimes lost, but not forgotten
6. Human mind (the) Our short term memory is not a memory but a recreation of the image or event. The long term memory is neither long term or a memory but a patchwork quilt of experience and ideas. However our ability to use experience is impressive, like our ability to see patterns and recognise faces today and as they age. Our memory is anything but perfect and that is the very reason we are so good.
7. Computers need perfect immediate and short (universe sort of time level) term memory due to the nature of the architecture and software. Corrupted memory in the OS stack is terminal. Corrupted memory/ data at the application level is annoying.
8. Different, but related is that we know there is a causal link between our own personal memory (mind) and our view of our own identity, indeed no memory no personal identity as you cannot imagine yourself. A question for us, if my memory fails are we are still the same person or not?

HOWEVER…. 

we have to question why are we crafting and creating something (near perfect identity) that does not have a similar model in our history, biology, nature or society? It is that we, maybe, want to use the thinking that a near perfect identity could solve certain human ills, or perhaps it is that we have deluded ourselves as the solution. Does perfect identity leads us to a perfect society; one where the 7 deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth would be eradicated?

Does knowing that you did something actually stop you or someone? An assumption is that near perfect identity will get the person eventually. I know that greed lead the person to take something and digitally we can trace it, but the harm may already have been done in the act or taking, so does knowing actually change harm or justice; as it cannot justify prevention.Another assumption is that near perfect identity will remove lying about something and assumes that the only outcome was not-positive (negative) for the person or society. Personally I don’t have an English school qualification as I am so dsylixic, so I had to lie to go to university - there is a longer story. If I didn't tell that lie, then the person who gets the bursary each year would not be getting it and the ramifications would not only be on me and my family but my group and a wider and more complex scenario or relationships. Indeed I would probably be paying less tax or even be a claimant on the system.The question “What type of memory does identity need” definitely needs some more unpacking. Identity needs a memory but the single, near perfect and forever one appears by nature's own lack of a solution, be a dark and empty rabbit hole. But how far from perfect is good enough and who determines good enough?

We certainly need a tool for simple decision identity making for KYC and AML but that does not mean we need a memory, across all systems, to link all data. Memory and its relationship to identity has to become a judgement which is confused by complexity.