Ship of Theseus

The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment questioning whether an object that has had all its components replaced remains fundamentally the same object. Imagine a ship whose wooden parts are gradually replaced over time; if every piece is replaced, is it still the original ship or a different one? Conversely, if the removed parts are reassembled into a ship, which is the original? This paradox explores ideas about identity and change, asking whether an object’s continuity or its material composition determines what it truly is. It challenges our understanding of sameness amid constant transformation.