Ship of Theseus
- “ship of theseus explained”
- “am I the same person I was”
- “what is the answer to the ship of theseus”
- “who came up with ship of theseus”
:: COMPARE ::
The puzzlevsFour-dimensionalism
The short answer
A dissolution rather than an answer. If objects are extended in time as well as space, the ship is a branching object divisible into four-dimensional proper parts — and the question of which branch is 'really it' stops being forced. You don't answer the puzzle; you deny that it had to have one answer.
Side by side
| Aspect | The puzzle | Four-dimensionalism |
|---|---|---|
| Objects are | 3D, enduring | 4D, extended in time |
| The question | Which one is it? | Ill-formed |
| Answer | Contested | Dissolved |
| Cost | A paradox | A strange ontology |
Which one you meant
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