Cognitive Science of Wizards?? (was Re: Pensieve = Security Camera? )

[Brenda]

No: HPFGUIDX 102835

>>> Ally wrote:

>>> But whose to say everyone has a pensieve? Only DD appears to have
one. Just like not everyone has a time turner or a Marauder's Map or
an invisibility cloak.

The fact that DD said its useful to gain perspective on an event and
the fact that it showed things Snape apparently wasn't consciously
aware of when they were happening (eg the Marauders conversation
about werewolves) makes me think it takes all of the conscious and
subconscious aspects of the memory and puts them all on display for
you. <<<


Bren now:

Heh, you took the words out of my mouth (or fingers, rather).  Though 
I still believe that Pensieve is more than "all of the conscious and
subconscious aspects of the memory", since it contains parts that 
even unconscious self couldn't have picked up (e.g. James & Sirius 
during DADA OWL exam).  I wonder what kind of magic is required to be 
able to use Pensieve properly.  Extremely powerful one I imagine?

In Message 102335 Alina said "It [Pensieve] seems to me of the family 
of magic to which Occlumency and Legilimency also belong" and I agree 
with her.  Pensieve may belong to an obscure branch of magic (just 
like Legilimency) and it may require very strong and stable state of 
mind from the wizard.

But what is up with all the "obscurity" in memory-storage and mind-
reading?  True, these are grey areas of cognitive science in humans 
as well, but it seems even more so in WW.  Perhaps wizards' cognitive 
state is at a higher level than that of Muggles.  Maybe there is an 
intricate network laid down in wizard individuals and their cognition 
is somehow connected.  A network of WW cognition with a very thick 
wall that one can only get through with hard practice.  Heck, there 
might be the Wizard Oracle/ Wizard Big Brother who controls ... 
everything.  That is a scary (and far-fetched, yes I know ;P) 
thought.  Good thing the new season of Alias doesn't start till next 
January, perhaps <g>.

Bren, who is not too sure of her post herself.