The aim of this paper is twofold. The first is to propose taking memory not merely as a specialized field but as a framework for recontextualizing philosophical issues in human phenomena. This will, in turn, allow scholars to redefine the multifaceted forms of memory based on their underlying temporal structure. This redefinition is expected to supplement the conceptually underdeveloped areas in current classifications and foster a more organic understanding of their interrelations.
The second objective is to address the issue of pastness as an example of an inquiry based on this methodological vision. From the historical tradition of philosophy, I extract the Past Endogeneity Principle, which posits that the pastness can only be derived from the process of recollection itself. This principle is shown to be a crucial guiding thread in the investigation of the universal origin of pastness. Next, returning to contemporary debates, I critically examine four existing positions within the context of memory and pastness, particularly focusing on the metacognitive view, which is becoming increasingly influential. While pastness has traditionally been discussed as an issue inherent to episodic memory, I argue for its relevance to recognition as well, leading to the derivation of two types of pastness. Additionally, I point out the inadequacies in the treatment of serial time attributed to the feeling of pastness and highlight the need for a reexamination from the perspective of the philosophy of time. The inquiry throughout the paper progresses by cross-referencing historical philosophy, contemporary analytic discussions, and empirical scientific findings.
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