Zen Physics, The Science of Death, the Logic of Reincarnation Quotes

“Instances of total, permanent amnesia challenge us to reevaluate our concept of death. For if we consider the most relevant aspect of death to be "what it feels like" (the subjective experience) rather than "what it looks like" (the objective view) then total memory loss does seem to qualify as an event remarkably similar – and, indeed, ontologically identical – to death as we normally understand it. If the experience of being a particular person, say person A, is contingent upon having a particular stock of memories, then if this stock is irretrievably lost the feeling of being person A must be lost as well. Person A, as a psychological entity, has effectively died – died, that is, as far as the victim and the victim's family and friends are concerned. Medically, genetically, legally – objectively – it is a different story, and someone whose memories have gone but who remains cortically alive is considered by society at large to be still the same person. However, to those who know the individual well, and, most importantly, as actually experienced by the victim of total memory loss, it is clear that there has been a radical, irreversible change.”
― David Darling, Zen Physics, The Science of Death, the Logic of Reincarnation