We Can Remember it for you Wholesale

In Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report, people can implant memories that are not theirs. It is an affordable way for people to experience activities or lives they would otherwise not be able to experience. If we ever had this kind of technology, would you support it? If so, explain how it could help people. If not, explain the harms you think will follow when many people begin using such a technology.

In We Can Remember It for you Wholesale, people can implant memories to experience activities and lives they normally can’t experience. For example, Douglas Quail implants a memory of going to Mars to experience his dream. In 2019, scientists came up with a method of memory implantation. They used optogenetics, a process of controlling neurons by shining light on them. By using this technique, they were able to make a mice respond to odors it never smelled before. They implanted false memories into the mice by manipulating some areas of the brain. I support this technology and believe that memory implantation could have many advantages.

Firstly, memory implantation can make people feel better. If we have a goal, fantasy, or dream that is impossible or difficult to experience or accomplish, why not implant the memory? If you don’t, you will probably regret it forever. If you implant the memory, you will vividly remember what it feels like. Whenever you think about the memory implanted, you will feel very satisfied and happy about the accomplishment. This will also create self-confidence, happiness, and a feeling of accomplishment, leading to the improvement of mental health and possibly the cure of various mental illnesses.

Another advantage is that we can understand more and become smarter. If implanting memories of facts or information is possible, then people will become smarter. We can learn through memory implantation. For example, if we experience going to Mars, we can find out what substance Mars is made of or whether it has living organisms. This can help in learning and even make people smarter. With memories implanted, students with trouble learning can do better in class. The memories that are implanted can give information or self-confidence. For instance, if a student is bad at math, there are several memories that can be implanted. Memory can tell a math formula or basic concepts. But, it can also include an experience of the student getting all the problems right in a test. A memory like this could make the student solve and learn math more confidently, without thinking they are bad at it, even eventually leading to them becoming better at it. As these examples show, we can improve in intelligence or understanding skills using memory implantation.

Finally, memory implants can create new fantasies, dreams, and goals. After a memory implant and achieving a goal, most people will not put much effort into pursuing it. Thus, they will find a new goal, fantasy, or dream. This will lead to more of the first and second benefits because people will implant memories again; the same process will repeat in a loop. However, without memory implants, people will only want to pursue the dream they have until they experience it. So, if their goal is impossible or very hard to achieve, they might not learn new things or experience more activities.

In conclusion, memory implants have many benefits and I support the technology for 3 reasons: positive emotions, an increase in intelligence, and new fantasies. Even though there may be some disadvantages, I think the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.