Who am I? A philosophical inquiry - Amy Adkins

Summary

The script delves into the age-old question of identity, 'Who am I?', exploring its complexity through the philosophical paradox of the Ship of Theseus. It examines the concept of identity's persistence, questioning whether one's identity remains constant despite continuous change. Drawing parallels between the ship's parts being replaced and the ever-evolving nature of a person's body, mind, and emotions, the script challenges the audience to consider the essence of self and the quest for understanding one's identity.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Throughout history, the question 'Who am I?' has intrigued poets, philosophers, and seekers.
• 🏛️ The ancient Greek aphorism 'Know thyself' highlights the long-standing quest for self-knowledge.
• 🎸 From The Who's rock anthem to academic debates, the question of identity has been widely explored.
• 🧠 Experts from various fields have diverse and often conflicting views on the nature of identity.
• ⏳ The concept of the persistence of identity questions whether we remain the same person over time.
• ⚓ The Ship of Theseus paradox illustrates the complexity of identity through the story of Theseus's ship.
• 🔄 Despite all parts being replaced, some argue the ship remains the same due to gradual changes.
• ❓ Others believe the ship's identity is tied to Theseus's presence, making the new ship qualitatively different.
• 🛠️ Rebuilding the original ship from discarded parts adds another layer of complexity to the paradox.
• 🌊 The question 'Who am I?' remains complex due to our constantly changing physical and mental states.

Q & A

What is the central question explored in the script?

The central question explored in the script is 'Who am I?' which delves into the concept of identity.

How does the script illustrate the complexity of identity?

The script illustrates the complexity of identity by highlighting the varying perspectives of philosophers, psychologists, academics, scientists, artists, theologians, and politicians, all of whom have tackled the subject without significant consensus.

What philosophical paradox is used to demonstrate the persistence of identity?

The philosophical paradox used to demonstrate the persistence of identity is the 'Ship of Theseus' paradox.

What is the 'Ship of Theseus' paradox?

The 'Ship of Theseus' paradox revolves around the idea of replacing every part of a ship over time and questioning whether it remains the same ship despite all its parts being replaced.

What are the two perspectives on whether Ship A (Theseus's original ship) equals Ship B (the ship after 1000 years of maintenance)?

One perspective is that Ship A equals Ship B because the changes were gradual, maintaining the ship's identity. The other perspective is that Ship A does not equal Ship B because Theseus never set foot on Ship B, making it qualitatively different.

What twist does the script introduce to the 'Ship of Theseus' paradox?

The twist introduced is the scenario where all the original parts of the ship are collected and rebuilt into another ship, creating two physical ships and raising the question of which one is the true Ship of Theseus.

How does the 'Ship of Theseus' paradox relate to the concept of personal identity?

The 'Ship of Theseus' paradox relates to personal identity by comparing the constantly changing parts of a ship to the changing aspects of a person, such as their physical body, mind, emotions, and circumstances, while questioning how a person remains the same despite these changes.

What historical reference is made regarding the persistence of identity?

The historical reference made is to Plutarch, a Greek historian who noted the Ship of Theseus as an example of the philosophical paradox about the persistence of identity.

How does the script suggest one might approach the question of 'Who am I?'

The script suggests that to answer 'Who am I?', one must be willing to dive into the complex and paradoxical nature of identity, or alternatively, embrace a more poetic and heroic self-conception.

What cultural references are used to frame the exploration of identity?

Cultural references include the ancient Greek aphorism 'Know thyself,' The Who's rock anthem 'Who Are You?', and the story of Theseus, the mythical founder King of Athens.

Outlines

00:00

🧐 The Quest for Self-Identity

This paragraph delves into the age-old question of identity, exploring how various disciplines have attempted to answer 'Who am I?' without reaching a consensus. It introduces the philosophical paradox of the Ship of Theseus, illustrating the complexities of identity persistence. The story of Theseus' ship, which was gradually replaced part by part, raises questions about whether the ship remained the same or became a new entity. This serves as a metaphor for the evolving nature of personal identity, challenging the reader to consider what truly defines 'I' and how one's identity can change over time.

Keywords

💡Identity

Identity refers to the qualities, beliefs, personality, values, and experiences that make a person unique. In the video, identity is explored through the ages, from ancient Greek aphorisms to modern discussions, emphasizing its complexity and the ongoing quest to understand 'Who am I?' It is central to the theme as it sets the stage for the philosophical inquiry into self.

💡Persistence of Identity

Persistence of identity addresses the continuity and change of one's identity over time. The script uses this concept to question whether the person you are today is the same as you were in the past or will be in the future. It is integral to the video's theme, illustrating the difficulty in defining a static 'self' amidst constant change.

💡Ship of Theseus

The Ship of Theseus is a philosophical thought experiment that raises questions about identity and change. In the video, it serves as a metaphor for the evolving nature of identity, where even with all parts replaced, the ship remains 'the same.' This paradox challenges the viewer to consider what constitutes the 'real' identity of an object or a person.

💡Philosophical Paradox

A philosophical paradox is a statement or scenario that seems to contradict itself and yet might be true under certain conditions. The video uses the Ship of Theseus as an example of such a paradox, questioning the nature of identity when all components are replaced, thus deepening the discourse on what makes something (or someone) remain essentially the same.

💡Qualitative Property

Qualitative property refers to a characteristic or trait that describes the nature or quality of something. In the context of the Ship of Theseus, the video suggests that the presence of Theseus is a qualitative property that makes the ship what it is, thus distinguishing between the numerical identity (same count of parts) and the qualitative identity (unique essence).

💡Numerically Identical

Numerical identity implies that two entities are the same in number or quantity, disregarding the specifics of their components. The video contrasts this with qualitative identity, using the example of two ships that are numerically identical (same number of parts) but not qualitatively the same due to the absence of the original components or the original context.

💡Quantitative Property

Quantitative property is a characteristic that can be measured or counted. In the video, it is used to describe the Ship of Theseus when all parts are replaced but the ship still exists in the same quantity, leading to the argument that it remains the same in a numerical sense.

💡Metaphor

A metaphor is a figure of speech that expresses one thing in terms of another, suggesting a resemblance. The Ship of Theseus is used as a metaphor in the video to represent the concept of identity and how it changes over time while still being perceived as the same entity.

💡Epic Journey

An epic journey is a long, eventful, and often transformative quest. The video uses the phrase to describe the personal journey of self-discovery and the exploration of identity, likening it to the heroic voyages of ancient myths and legends, which adds a layer of grandeur and significance to the individual's quest for understanding 'Who am I?'

💡Legendary Hero

A legendary hero is a central figure in folklore or mythology, often associated with great deeds or adventures. In the video, the term is used to personify the individual's identity, suggesting that each person's journey through life and quest for self-understanding can be as epic and significant as the tales of legendary heroes.

Highlights

The enduring question 'Who am I?' has driven the pursuits of poets, philosophers, and seekers throughout history.

The aphorism 'Know thyself' from the Temple of Apollo reflects the ancient origins of the quest for self-identity.

The subject of identity has been tackled by a diverse range of thinkers, yet lacks a unified consensus.

The persistence of identity is a complex concept, challenging to define across time and aspects of self.

The Ship of Theseus paradox is introduced to illustrate the complexities of identity and change.

The paradox questions whether an object that has all its parts replaced remains the same.

Two ships, A and B, are considered in the paradox to explore the concept of numerical and qualitative identity.

Some argue that the gradual replacement of parts does not alter the identity of the Ship of Theseus.

Others contend that the absence of Theseus' presence on Ship B negates its identity as the Ship of Theseus.

A twist in the paradox considers the reassembly of the original ship's parts, leading to two physical ships.

The existence of two ships raises the question of which is the 'real' Ship of Theseus.

The concept of identity is likened to the Ship of Theseus, with constant change yet a sense of sameness.

The question 'Who am I?' is highlighted as complex due to the paradoxical nature of identity.

The transcript suggests that answering 'Who am I?' requires delving into philosophical paradoxes.

An alternative, playful answer to the question of identity is offered, invoking the image of a legendary hero.

Transcripts

Throughout the history of mankind,

three little words have sent poets to the blank page,

philosophers to the Agora,

and seekers to the oracles:

"Who am I?"

From the ancient Greek aphorism inscribed on the Temple of Apollo,

"Know thyself,"

to The Who's rock anthem, "Who Are You?"

philosophers, psychologists, academics,

scientists, artists, theologians and politicians

have all tackled the subject of identity.

Their hypotheses are widely varied and lack significant consensus.

These are smart, creative people,

so what's so hard about coming up with the right answer?

One challenge certainly lies

with the complex concept of the persistence of identity.

Which you is who?

The person you are today?

Five years ago?

Who you'll be in 50 years?

And when is "am"?

This week?

Today?

This hour?

This second?

And which aspect of you is "I"?

Are you your physical body?

Your thoughts and feelings?

Your actions?

These murky waters of abstract logic are tricky to navigate,

and so it's probably fitting that to demonstrate the complexity,

the Greek historian Plutarch used the story of a ship.

How are you "I"?

As the tale goes, Theseus, the mythical founder King of Athens,

single-handedly slayed the evil Minotaur at Crete,

then returned home on a ship.

To honor this heroic feat,

for 1000 years Athenians painstakingly maintained his ship in the harbor,

and annually reenacted his voyage.

Whenever a part of the ship was worn or damaged,

it was replaced with an identical piece of the same material

until, at some point, no original parts remained.

Plutarch noted the Ship of Theseus

was an example of the philosophical paradox

revolving around the persistence of identity.

How can every single part of something be replaced,

yet it still remains the same thing?

Let's imagine there are two ships:

the ship that Theseus docked in Athens, Ship A,

and the ship sailed by the Athenians 1000 years later, Ship B.

Very simply, our question is this: does A equal B?

Some would say that for 1000 years there has been only one Ship of Theseus,

and because the changes made to it happened gradually,

it never at any point in time stopped being the legendary ship.

Though they have absolutely no parts in common,

the two ships are numerically identical, meaning one and the same,

so A equals B.

However, others could argue that Theseus never set foot on Ship B,

and his presence on the ship is an essential qualitative property

of the Ship of Theseus.

It cannot survive without him.

So, though the two ships are numerically identical,

they are not qualitatively identical.

Thus, A does not equal B.

But what happens when we consider this twist?

What if, as each piece of the original ship was cast off,

somebody collected them all, and rebuilt the entire original ship?

When it was finished, undeniably two physical ships would exist:

the one that's docked in Athens,

and the one in some guy's backyard.

Each could lay claim to the title, "The Ship of Theseus,"

but only would could actually be the real thing.

So which one is it,

and more importantly, what does this have to do with you?

Like the Ship of Theseus,

you are a collection of constantly changing parts:

your physical body, mind, emotions, circumstances, and even your quirks,

always changing, but still in an amazing and sometimes illogical way,

you stay the same, too.

This is one of the reasons that the question, "Who am I?" is so complex.

And in order to answer it,

like so many great minds before you,

you must be willing to dive into the bottomless ocean of philosophical paradox.

Or maybe you could just answer,

"I am a legendary hero sailing a powerful ship on an epic journey."

That could work, too.