I always love it when people make references to the Ship of Theseus, because it is such a fascinating thought experiment.
As recorded by Plutarch in 75 CE, The ship of hero Theseus was kept for many years. Over time, the old planks were replaced with new ones. When the last original piece of the ship was removed and replaced with a new one, was it still the same ship?
There is also a newer puzzle by Thomas Hobbes. If you kept the old planks from the original ship of Theseus and built them into a new ship, which would be the real ship of Theseus – the new one in the water or the old one on land?
I read something poignant written by an abuse survivor, which made me think of the ship of Theseus
Human identity is complex. In some sense we are who we have always been, because we are not just physical. We are also emotional. When it comes to a car, for example, perhaps it is not so complicated? If you replace all the parts, it is a new car. Or not?
I love that about the cell replacement
Trigger’s broom (from Only Fools and Horses) is an example of this!