Full Idea
A whole - or some wholes - might be thought to survive gradual replacement of its parts, perhaps, but not their elimination.
Gist of Idea
Many wholes can survive replacement of their parts
Source
John Heil (The Universe as We Find It [2012], 03.1)
Book Reference
Heil,John: 'The Universe as We Find It' [OUP 2012], p.34
A Reaction
You can't casually replace the precious golden parts of a statue with cheap lead ones. It depends on whether the parts matter. Nevertheless this is a really important idea in metaphysics. It enables the s=Ship of Theseus to survive some change.