Single Idea 13381

[catalogued under 9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 9. Ship of Theseus]

Full Idea

Thinking about the original ship as a ship, we think we continue to have the 'same ship' as each part is replaced; ...but when we think of them as physical objects, we think the original ship and the outcome of the reassembly are one and the same.

Gist of Idea

Thinking of them as 'ships' the repaired ship is the original, but as 'objects' the reassembly is the original

Source

Michael Jubien (Possibility [2009], 1.4)

Book Reference

Jubien,Michael: 'Possibility' [OUP 2009], p.16


A Reaction

It seems to me that you cannot eliminate how we are thinking of the ship as influencing how we should read it. My suggestion is to think of Theseus himself valuing either the repaired or the reassembled version. That's bad for Jubien's account.