Who am I? A philosophical inquiry - Amy Adkins

The Quest for Identity00:00:06

Throughout history, thinkers and artists have struggled to answer the question 'Who am I?' This inquiry is complicated by the challenge of defining persistence of identity over time and determining which components—body, mind, or actions—truly constitute an individual.

The Ship of Theseus Paradox00:01:25

Plutarch’s Ship of Theseus parable describes a ship whose parts were replaced one by one over 1,000 years until none of the original materials remained. This raises the question of whether the restored ship is numerically or qualitatively identical to the original.

Complex Variations and Implications00:03:26

The paradox deepens when considering a scenario where someone reconstructs a ship using all the original discarded parts, creating two competing claims to the title. This thought experiment reflects human existence, as people are constantly changing yet maintain a sense of continuous selfhood.