Aldarion
Neoreactionary Monarchist
"The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment about whether an object that has had all of its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object."
One solution is basing the identity on the fundamental components of the ship. In this solution, a ship that has had all of its components replaced is a completely new object. But a ship that has everything except its ribs replaced is still the old ship, because ribs are the most fundamental part of its structure. Similarly, a computer would become a new thing upon replacing its motherboard.
Second solution is basically a mathematical solution: object becomes a new object one >50% of its parts had been replaced.
Third solution is looking at the continuity of existence. This is one that human brain tends to lean towards: most important aspect is the perceptual continuity. Thus a ship that has its parts replaced one by one never receives a new existential identity despite eventually having all parts replaced. But a ship that is demolished and built with new parts would receive new identity and thus not be the same ship.
Personally, I lean towards the third solution, albeit with some aspects of the first.
One solution is basing the identity on the fundamental components of the ship. In this solution, a ship that has had all of its components replaced is a completely new object. But a ship that has everything except its ribs replaced is still the old ship, because ribs are the most fundamental part of its structure. Similarly, a computer would become a new thing upon replacing its motherboard.
Second solution is basically a mathematical solution: object becomes a new object one >50% of its parts had been replaced.
Third solution is looking at the continuity of existence. This is one that human brain tends to lean towards: most important aspect is the perceptual continuity. Thus a ship that has its parts replaced one by one never receives a new existential identity despite eventually having all parts replaced. But a ship that is demolished and built with new parts would receive new identity and thus not be the same ship.
Personally, I lean towards the third solution, albeit with some aspects of the first.