0% of the phrases of the original Wikipedia "Ship of Theseus" article remain (twitter.com)

Article summary

The Wikipedia article on the 'Ship of Theseus' has undergone 1792 edits since its creation in 2003, with 0% of the original phrases remaining. The article's evolution is attributed to the collaborative editing process on Wikipedia. The original article was brief and included irrelevant information, which has been replaced over time. The current article provides a more comprehensive explanation of the thought experiment.

Main themes

• Ship of Theseus paradox
• Wikipedia editing process
• identity and change
• collaborative writing
• philosophy of objects
• thought experiments

What commenters say

• The Ship of Theseus thought experiment raises questions about the nature of identity and whether an object remains the same after its components have been replaced.
• Some argue that the original article's description of the concept was more effective than the current version.
• The idea that objects do not have an inherent identity is proposed as a resolution to the paradox.
• The editing process on Wikipedia is seen as a form of the Ship of Theseus paradox, where the original text is gradually replaced over time.
• The notion that the identity of an object is not fixed is compared to the concept of Santa Claus, where the identity transcends individual bodies.
• The importance of the story of the ship in illustrating the thought experiment is debated, with some arguing it is merely a vehicle to convey the idea.
• The process of writing and editing is likened to the Ship of Theseus, where the original text is refined and replaced over time.
• The concept of the Ship of Theseus is applied to real-world objects, such as wooden ships, which undergo repairs and replacements over time.