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The
Ship of Theseus |
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Some
conflicting (but not wholly unreasonable) theories of identity through ti=
me |
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Th=
e ship
wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens retur=
ned
had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time=
of
Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the o=
ld
planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their place,
insomuch that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers,=
for
the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship
remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same. |
Plutarch (Vita
Thesei 22-23) |
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Simple
version: |
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Theseus’ ship carries a complete supply of replaceme=
nt
parts as cargo. During the long voyage from |
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Question: Doe=
s Theseus arrive back in |
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A =3D the shi=
p on
which Theseus started his voyage |
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B =3D the shi=
p on
which Theseus finished his voyage |
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¿A
=3D B? |
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Complex
version: |
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Same
replacement-at-sea scenario as above except Theseus<=
/span>
is being followed by Scavenger, a crafty fellow who picks up all of the
pieces thrown overboard and uses them to build his own boat. Scavenger
arrives in |
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A =3D the shi=
p Theseus started his voyage on |
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B =3D the shi=
p Theseus finished his voyage on |
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C =3D the ship
Scavenger finished his voyage on |
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Problem: what=
is the
identity / non-identity relation of A to B & C? |
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=
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=
¿ A =3D B ? |
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¿ A =3D C ? |
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¿ Both A =3D B & A =3D C ? |
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¿ Neither A =3D B nor A =3D C ? |
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The Problem of Personal Identity