Serguey Ehrlich "Memory, Identity, and Imagination"
Обновлено: 24 сент.
Ehrlich Serguey Memory, Identity, and Imagination. The Structure of Behaviour from the Perspective of Memory Studies. Discussion: Sergei Beliakov, Stefan Berger, Evgeny Blinov, Marianne Hirsch, Ludmila Isurin, Natalija Majsova, Milica Popović, Ann Rigney, Henry L. Roediger III and Olivia L. Jäggi, Marie-Laure Ryan, James V. Wertsch, and Tyler Wertsch. — Chișinău: The Historical Expertise, 2026. 248 p. 978-3-68959-774-0 ISIA Media Verlag
Serguey Ehrlich suggests a new approach to memory studies, proposing that memory is a component of the guidance and control subsystem of behaviour—that is, a mental structure that initiates practical activities: (1) This subsystem can be represented as a ‘molecule,’ consisting of three ‘atoms’: memory (past/experience), identity (present/ritual), and imagination (future/program); (2) These ‘atoms’ share a common triple-layered narrative ‘nucleus’: the specific narrative, schematic narrative template, and base mythic narrative; (3) The core of the ‘nucleus’ consists of three base mythic narratives: the fairy tale (myth of prize acquisition), the heroic myth (myth of other-sacrifice), and the myth of self-sacrifice; (4) The ‘fundamental particles’ of base mythic narratives are self-sacrifice (altruism/solidarity), other-sacrifice, and prize acquisition, which represent the condensed experience of human evolution. These can be called ‘primal phenomena’: (1) Prize acquisition is the source of the cannibalistic primal trauma, which remains unresolved and is fraught with unmotivated violence and conspicuous consumption; (2) Other-sacrifice is the origin of primal religion; (3) Self-sacrifice is the primal phenomenon of a sustainable society. The focus of analysis is the ‘nucleus’ of narrativity: narratives are ‘carriers’ of memory, identity, and imagination. We can distinguish historical epochs based on the domination of one of these three co-existing base mythic narratives: (1) In pre-state hunter-gatherer societies, it was the fairy tale; (2) In state agrarian and industrial societies, it is the heroic myth; (3) In post-state information society, it will be the myth of self-sacrifice, which is the only reliable tool to create memory, identity, and imagination adequate for our nascent Global Age. The author acknowledges that he is proposing a dream, but he also believes that history is the embodiment of competing dreams. Therefore, this essay is an invitation to discussion.
You can download the book for free from the website.
![Н. С. Хрущев и МГБ/КГБ СССР, 1953–1964 гг. [сборник документов] / составители: М. Уль, В. Н. Хаустов.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9e1fc_5f0e44c960df4f1c8d71d766f8d57e3d~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1405,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/e9e1fc_5f0e44c960df4f1c8d71d766f8d57e3d~mv2.png)