The Ship of Theseus
Philosophers have a paradox known as the Ship of Theseus problem
: According to Greek
legend
as reported by Plutarch
,
The ship wherein Theseus
and the youth of Athens
returned [from Crete
] had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus
, for they took away the old 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 thus questions whether the ship would remain the same if it were entirely replaced, piece by piece. As a corollary, one can question what happens if the replaced parts were used to build a second ship. Which, if either, is the original Ship of Theseus?
( Take a poll )
: According to Greek
legend
as reported by Plutarch
,
The ship wherein Theseus
and the youth of Athens
returned [from Crete
] had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus
, for they took away the old 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 thus questions whether the ship would remain the same if it were entirely replaced, piece by piece. As a corollary, one can question what happens if the replaced parts were used to build a second ship. Which, if either, is the original Ship of Theseus?
( Take a poll )