The riddle of experience vs. memory

In this TED conference, Nobel Prize laureate Daniel Kahneman, pioneer of behavioral economy, explains the cognitive mechanisms that control experience and memory. In particular, he underlines the differences between the manner in which we live a moment and the manner in which we remember it. He explains that two facets of our personality co-exist: an “experiencing self” and a “remembering self”. The first lives in the moment, attentive to each sensation. The second is far more selective: it only records particular moments, which enable it to “narrate” the experience for later recall. Kahneman illustrates his point with examples that speak volumes, such as holiday memories or, less pleasantly, those of a colonoscopy.

A very didactic presentation, which highlights the subjective manner in which everyone lives and remembers events.