Let's say I have a boat, but I replace an old part with a new part. Is it the same boat?
What if I keep replacing old parts with new ones until there are only new parts. Is it the same boat then? If not, at what point does it stop being the same boat?
What if I took all those old parts, and built another boat out of them. Which boat is the old one, if either?
Whichever boat you call the old one, really. "Same" isn't really a helpful word when you get right down to it, because no macro-scale object is going to be exactly identical to any other, nor with itself from a few moments in time. So, then, to me it becomes more of a linguistic problem. If, after each change to the ship, somebody calls the ship as a whole by its name (or at least considers the ship to be named), then every part of the ship is part of the ship. By the end, you could still call it the same thing that you called it in the beginning, and you wouldn't be wrong. But it's obviously not the same boat, and it hasn't been the same boat since the first repair, because once you change something about it it's different, and if it's different it can't be truly the same.
I should also like to point out that Theseus himself can be analogized with his ship, as can anybody else. Your body is constantly changing throughout your life. By a point, practically nothing is the same as when you were born, apparently excepting your ears and maybe your nose. So, are you the same person that you were when you were born? Do you deserve to keep the name that was given to you (or, perhaps, not you) at birth? Are the answers to those last two questions different?
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Let's say I have a boat, but I replace an old part with a new part. Is it the same boat?
What if I keep replacing old parts with new ones until there are only new parts. Is it the same boat then? If not, at what point does it stop being the same boat?
What if I took all those old parts, and built another boat out of them. Which boat is the old one, if either?
Whichever boat you call the old one, really. "Same" isn't really a helpful word when you get right down to it, because no macro-scale object is going to be exactly identical to any other, nor with itself from a few moments in time. So, then, to me it becomes more of a linguistic problem. If, after each change to the ship, somebody calls the ship as a whole by its name (or at least considers the ship to be named), then every part of the ship is part of the ship. By the end, you could still call it the same thing that you called it in the beginning, and you wouldn't be wrong. But it's obviously not the same boat, and it hasn't been the same boat since the first repair, because once you change something about it it's different, and if it's different it can't be truly the same.
I should also like to point out that Theseus himself can be analogized with his ship, as can anybody else. Your body is constantly changing throughout your life. By a point, practically nothing is the same as when you were born, apparently excepting your ears and maybe your nose. So, are you the same person that you were when you were born? Do you deserve to keep the name that was given to you (or, perhaps, not you) at birth? Are the answers to those last two questions different?
That's a good question
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"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" - 1 Timothy 1:17
Let's say I have a boat, but I replace an old part with a new part. Is it the same boat?
What if I keep replacing old parts with new ones until there are only new parts. Is it the same boat then? If not, at what point does it stop being the same boat?
What if I took all those old parts, and built another boat out of them. Which boat is the old one, if either?
Whichever boat you call the old one, really. "Same" isn't really a helpful word when you get right down to it, because no macro-scale object is going to be exactly identical to any other, nor with itself from a few moments in time. So, then, to me it becomes more of a linguistic problem. If, after each change to the ship, somebody calls the ship as a whole by its name (or at least considers the ship to be named), then every part of the ship is part of the ship. By the end, you could still call it the same thing that you called it in the beginning, and you wouldn't be wrong. But it's obviously not the same boat, and it hasn't been the same boat since the first repair, because once you change something about it it's different, and if it's different it can't be truly the same.
I should also like to point out that Theseus himself can be analogized with his ship, as can anybody else. Your body is constantly changing throughout your life. By a point, practically nothing is the same as when you were born, apparently excepting your ears and maybe your nose. So, are you the same person that you were when you were born? Do you deserve to keep the name that was given to you (or, perhaps, not you) at birth? Are the answers to those last two questions different?
Paradox lol
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I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
Let's say I have a boat, but I replace an old part with a new part. Is it the same boat?
What if I keep replacing old parts with new ones until there are only new parts. Is it the same boat then? If not, at what point does it stop being the same boat?
What if I took all those old parts, and built another boat out of them. Which boat is the old one, if either?
Whichever boat you call the old one, really. "Same" isn't really a helpful word when you get right down to it, because no macro-scale object is going to be exactly identical to any other, nor with itself from a few moments in time. So, then, to me it becomes more of a linguistic problem. If, after each change to the ship, somebody calls the ship as a whole by its name (or at least considers the ship to be named), then every part of the ship is part of the ship. By the end, you could still call it the same thing that you called it in the beginning, and you wouldn't be wrong. But it's obviously not the same boat, and it hasn't been the same boat since the first repair, because once you change something about it it's different, and if it's different it can't be truly the same.
I should also like to point out that Theseus himself can be analogized with his ship, as can anybody else. Your body is constantly changing throughout your life. By a point, practically nothing is the same as when you were born, apparently excepting your ears and maybe your nose. So, are you the same person that you were when you were born? Do you deserve to keep the name that was given to you (or, perhaps, not you) at birth? Are the answers to those last two questions different?
I was going to say the same thing and then I read your post and realized I didn't have to.
To answer a couple questions I would have asked: You are and you are not the same person when you are born. You do develop and change and end up very different than you were when you first started out. However, it would be a mistake to think that since your infant, teenage, and adult selves are all so different, that you have been different people and your name should be changed at different stages of your life. (Now I want to create a fantasy civilization based on this.) You change, but your past selves are still parts of who you are.
However, it would be a mistake to think that since your infant, teenage, and adult selves are all so different, that you have been different people and your name should be changed at different stages of your life. (Now I want to create a fantasy civilization based on this.)
You want to create a fantasy civilization where names change with maturity? Hate to break it to you, but elves already exist.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
However, it would be a mistake to think that since your infant, teenage, and adult selves are all so different, that you have been different people and your name should be changed at different stages of your life. (Now I want to create a fantasy civilization based on this.)
You want to create a fantasy civilization where names change with maturity? Hate to break it to you, but elves already exist.
I know it has been done before. I would try to make it more extreme where the names change at least once every ten years and maybe more depending on special events that happen in someone's life. There might even be people whose entire jobs are to award names to those who are entering new stages of their lives.
However, it would be a mistake to think that since your infant, teenage, and adult selves are all so different, that you have been different people and your name should be changed at different stages of your life. (Now I want to create a fantasy civilization based on this.)
You want to create a fantasy civilization where names change with maturity? Hate to break it to you, but elves already exist.
I know it has been done before. I would try to make it more extreme where the names change at least once every ten years and maybe more depending on special events that happen in someone's life. There might even be people whose entire jobs are to award names to those who are entering new stages of their lives.
Since its so heavily influenced by names you could do something along the lines of the Inheretence Cycle and make that race have true names which they have tp discover and give power over the person.
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"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" - 1 Timothy 1:17
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Whichever boat you call the old one, really. "Same" isn't really a helpful word when you get right down to it, because no macro-scale object is going to be exactly identical to any other, nor with itself from a few moments in time. So, then, to me it becomes more of a linguistic problem. If, after each change to the ship, somebody calls the ship as a whole by its name (or at least considers the ship to be named), then every part of the ship is part of the ship. By the end, you could still call it the same thing that you called it in the beginning, and you wouldn't be wrong. But it's obviously not the same boat, and it hasn't been the same boat since the first repair, because once you change something about it it's different, and if it's different it can't be truly the same.
I should also like to point out that Theseus himself can be analogized with his ship, as can anybody else. Your body is constantly changing throughout your life. By a point, practically nothing is the same as when you were born, apparently excepting your ears and maybe your nose. So, are you the same person that you were when you were born? Do you deserve to keep the name that was given to you (or, perhaps, not you) at birth? Are the answers to those last two questions different?
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
That's a good question
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" - 1 Timothy 1:17
Paradox lol
I really like D&D, especially Ravenloft, Exandria and the Upside Down from Stranger Things. My pronouns are she/they (genderfae).
I was going to say the same thing and then I read your post and realized I didn't have to.
To answer a couple questions I would have asked: You are and you are not the same person when you are born. You do develop and change and end up very different than you were when you first started out. However, it would be a mistake to think that since your infant, teenage, and adult selves are all so different, that you have been different people and your name should be changed at different stages of your life. (Now I want to create a fantasy civilization based on this.) You change, but your past selves are still parts of who you are.
You want to create a fantasy civilization where names change with maturity? Hate to break it to you, but elves already exist.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
I know it has been done before. I would try to make it more extreme where the names change at least once every ten years and maybe more depending on special events that happen in someone's life. There might even be people whose entire jobs are to award names to those who are entering new stages of their lives.
Since its so heavily influenced by names you could do something along the lines of the Inheretence Cycle and make that race have true names which they have tp discover and give power over the person.
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen" - 1 Timothy 1:17