The Ship That Was Rebuilt
Written by Studio AM.
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A philosophical puzzle describes a wooden ship preserved in a harbour. Over many years, workers replace its old planks one by one. Eventually, none of the original wood remains. The vessel has continued to be maintained as the same ship. Does that continuity make it the original, even with different material?
Now imagine that the discarded planks have been kept and can be assembled into a second ship. One vessel has the continuous history of maintenance and use. The other contains the original wood. The two objects cannot both be one and the same physical ship, yet each has a claim to its identity.
The puzzle brings two possible criteria into conflict: original material and continuity through change. Choosing one criterion can produce a different answer from choosing the other. People also ask similar questions about renovated buildings and restored artworks.
The passage does not settle which criterion should always win. It shows why explaining what we mean by 'the same' matters. Before defending an answer, we need to identify the test of identity we are using.
The passage is hidden while you answer. It comes back with your result.
Questions
Choose an answer. The explanation appears after you answer.
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Question 1 of 4
What is the main point of the passage?
The answer is B: Two criteria for identity can give conflicting answers about a repaired object.
The two ships separate original material from continuous history, showing why the chosen criterion matters.
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Question 2 of 4
According to the passage, what was the second ship built from?
The answer is C: The original planks removed during repairs.
The imagined second ship is assembled from the original planks kept after removal.
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Question 3 of 4
Someone says the continuously maintained vessel is the original even though its wood changed. Which criterion are they using?
The answer is D: Continuity of history through the repairs.
That answer follows the vessel's continuing history rather than requiring the original wood.
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Question 4 of 4
What does 'discarded' mean in this passage?
The answer is A: removed as no longer wanted.
The planks were removed and no longer wanted in the maintained vessel. They were discarded from it, even if someone kept them.
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