Ideas of self, the mind-body relationship, and, ultimately, our degree of freedom to be happy are all issues explored in Robin Marantz HenigisÆ ôThe Quest to Forget.ö In this article, Henig offers the latest theories and research aimed at helping those who suffer from trauma to relieve their anguish emotionally by minimizing the impact of painful memories. The torment of those who suffer anguish over traumatic memories is often debilitating. However, by influencing our emotions, pain and memories through chemical means makes many believe science is trying to undermine the very qualities of being human that make the human condition rich and complex. However, as Henigis (p. 16) suggests, ôIf we as a society decide itÆs better to keep people locked in their anguish because of some idealized view of what it means to be human, we might be revealing ourselves to be a society with a twisted notion of what being human really means.ö This analysis will discuss some of the issues involved in the effort of science to alleviate human anguish, particularly as they relate to notions of self, the mind-body relationship, and the capacity of human beings to be free of anguish and suffering.
In the film ôThe Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,ö two ex-lovers pay to have their painful memories of their breakup eliminated from their conscious recollection. In so doing, the film focuses on factors like genetics, the senses and biochemistry, all of which appear to be connected to notions of self, the mind-body relationship and our notions of human freedom and happiness. In HenigisÆ (p. 3) article, the examples of KathleenÆs rape trauma and the post-traumatic stress disorder of war veterans demonstrate a potentially powerful argument for a new science known as ôtherapeutic forgetting.ö
In ôtherapeutic forgetting,ö scientists attempt to destroy specific memories out of our mind, particularly ones associated with strong, negative ...