Shoemaker's causal theory attempts to escape circularity by requiring that memory traces be caused 'in the right way' by the original experience, but 'the right way' covertly reintroduces personal identity as the causal relatum.

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Causal relatum(what the theory covertly reintroduces): The thing that is being affected or caused by something else—in this case, the thing being caused is personal identity itself.
Circularity (in logic)(as used in logic and epistemology): When a definition or argument uses itself as part of its own explanation, making it logically problematic because you can't use something to prove itself.
Shoemaker: A shoemaker is a craftsperson who designs, makes, and repairs shoes by hand or with tools. Historically, shoemakers were skilled artisans who would create custom footwear tailored to individual customers, though today the term can refer to anyone who professionally makes or fixes shoes. This trade is one of the oldest crafts, dating back centuries, and shoemakers were once central figures in communities before mass manufacturing took over shoe production.
causal theory(what Stroud's argument attempts to establish): A theory about how we know things: the idea that we gain knowledge about the world because objects cause effects on our senses (like light bouncing off a apple into your eyes).

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