Transformation of Historical Memory and Identity: the Reception of Paul Ricoeur’s Philosophy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21847/2411-3093.2026.8111Keywords:
identity, history, narrative, memory, collective memory, personality, consciousness, representation, phenomenologyAbstract
The article is devoted to the study of the interaction between memory and identity in the philosophy of P. Ricoeur. It clarifies the content of the concepts of "memory," "identity," "narrative," and "narrative identity," which are fundamental to the philosopher's original conceptual framework. Within the scope of investigating the outlined issues, the author analyzes the interpretation of memory and the mechanisms of memorization, and examines historical knowledge and its representation in consciousness as a tool for analyzing the interconnection between memory and history. The study also considers the concept of "narrative identity" introduced into scientific discourse and the role of narrative in P. Ricoeur's oeuvre. The author emphasizes that if memory is a representation of history, then narrative identity emerges as a foundational property of self-knowledge and the self-determination of the individual. From this follows the main characteristic of historical memory: it is the result of a complex dialectical interaction between individual and collective narratives, shared memory, and personal experiences. The contradictory nature of such interaction lies in the fact that this process creates both opportunities for self-awareness and a basis for distor-tions. Since memory is subjective, it can serve as both a source of continuity and a cause of the disruption of self-consciousness, where traumatic memories destroy the integrity of narrative and identity.
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