CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORSHIP
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
John J. Student
jjstudent@nova.edu
Personal Identity Philosophy in Memento
Prof. Steven Alford
Month 12, 20xx
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORSHIP
I certify that I am the author of this paper and that any assistance received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. I have also cited any sources from which I used data, ideas, or words, either quoted directly or paraphrased. I also certify that I prepared this paper specifically for this section of this course.
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John J. Student
Personal Identity Philosophy in Memento
The physical continuity theory and the psychological continuity theory are theories of personal identity philosophy that attempt to explain the nature of personal identity. The physical continuity theory describes personal identity as dependent on the continuity of the physical state of the body. This theory basically states that as long as the physical state of a person’s body is the same over time, the person can be identified over the time period. The psychological continuity theory describes personal identity as dependent on the continuity of certain psychological attributes or qualities. These psychological attributes/qualities include a continuous stream of consciousness and a continuous personality. Memento (2000) deals with the issue of personal identity, but it does not support either the physical continuity theory or the psychological continuity theory in establishing Leonard’s identity as one person in the movie.
Memento’s main character, Leonard Shelby, suffers from a rare condition called anterograde amnesia, which inhibits his ability to form new permanent memories. Leonard makes notes on important information and uses them to remind himself of past events. He also tattoos vital information to his body, such as the reason for his wife’s absence and the information that would help him to avenge her death. Throughout the movie, Leonard experiences some changes in physical form. He alters his body when he gets new tattoos. For example, the picture of Leonard pointing to an unmarked spot over his heart (101 minutes) shows Leonard as having fewer tattoos in general than during the later parts of the movie. In another scene (80 minutes), Leonard is shown as not having any scars on his left cheek. However, Leonard does have scars on his left cheek during most of the other points in the movie (i.e., 14 minutes). Since the physical continuity theory, based on physical appearance in this case, requires that no changes in physical form occur Leonard cannot be identified as the same person throughout the movie according to the physical continuity theory. The physical continuity theory would support the idea that Leonard is not the same person over the course of the movie. Therefore, Memento does not support the physical continuity theory because the theory cannot establish Leonard’s identity as one person throughout the movie.
Memento also does not support the psychological continuity theory. The psychological continuity theory requires that Leonard have continuous psychological attributes over the course of movie in order to identify him. However, Leonard does not have a continuous stream of conscious during the course of the movie. Whenever Leonard sleeps, his stream of consciousness is broken. For instance, when Leonard suffers the head injury (76 minutes) he loses consciousness. Thus, his stream of consciousness is broken and the psychological continuity theory cannot establish his identity as the same person throughout the movie. Furthermore, Leonard shows some major changes in personality. In certain scenes, Leonard seems nonviolent and highly rational. Prior to Leonard’s head injury, Leonard used rational thought patterns. For instance, he based the rejection of insurance money for Sammy Jenkis on the grounds that Sammy’s condition was mental (not covered by the company), which was determined though experimentation. However, Leonard displayed violent behavior and irrational thought patterns after his injury. Leonard states, “I’m not a killer” (102-3 minutes) in one scene, but he kills Jimmy Grant and Teddy in other scenes. Leonard also refuses to accept the truth (assuming Teddy is correct) and intentionally deceives himself into believing that Teddy killed Leonard’s wife. The incongruent personalities displayed by Leonard support the idea that the psychological continuity theory cannot be used to establish Leonard’s identity over the course of the movie.
Therefore, Memento does not support either the physical or psychological theories of personal identity because neither theory can be used to identify Leonard as the same person over the course of the movie. Leonard does not have a continuous physical state and his psychological properties experience changes as well. Philosophers will have to discover new personal identity theories to establish Leonard’s identity in Memento.
Works Cited
Memento. Dir. Christopher Nolan. Prod. Jennifer Todd, Suzanne Todd, Aaron Ryder,
William Tyrer, Chris J. Ball. Perf. Guy Pearce, Joe Pantoliano, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Junior, Stephen Tobolowsky. New Market Film Group, 2000.