The Problem of Persistence: How Objects Endure Through Change.

The Problem of Persistence: How Objects Endure Through Change (A Philosophical Romp)

(Lecture Begins)

Alright, gather ’round, ye knowledge-hungry minds! Today, we’re diving headfirst into a philosophical conundrum that’s plagued thinkers for millennia: The Problem of Persistence. 🤯

Forget your existential dread for a moment (we’ll get back to that later, naturally), because we’re tackling something even more fundamental: How can anything remain the same when everything is constantly changing? I mean, think about it. Are you the same person you were five seconds ago? Probably not. You’ve digested a molecule or two of air, maybe shifted slightly in your seat, and possibly even had a fleeting thought about ordering pizza later.🍕

So, how do we make sense of the world around us, where things seem to endure, despite the undeniable truth that they’re perpetually morphing? Buckle up, because this is going to be a wild ride! 🎢

I. The Ship of Theseus: Our Gateway to Confusion

Let’s start with a classic thought experiment: The Ship of Theseus. 🚢

Imagine Theseus, the legendary Greek hero, returns from a victorious voyage. His ship, battered but triumphant, is proudly displayed in the harbor. Over time, however, the wooden planks begin to rot and decay. One by one, they are replaced.

• Plank 1: Replaced
• Plank 2: Replaced
• Plank 3: Replaced
• …and so on.

Eventually, every single plank of the original ship has been replaced.

The Question: Is this still the Ship of Theseus? 🤔

Even More Fun:

Now, let’s say someone meticulously collected all the old planks, carefully cleaned them, and rebuilt a ship using only the original materials.

New Question: Is that the Ship of Theseus? 🤯🤯

Scenario	Is it the Ship of Theseus?	Reasoning
Original Ship, all planks replaced	¯_(ツ)_/¯	Depends on your philosophical bent. Is it the same due to its function or its history?
Ship built from original, old planks	¯_(ツ)_/¯	Again, depends. Is it the same because it’s made of the original material, even though it’s a ‘new’ entity?

The Ship of Theseus beautifully illustrates the core problem: How do we define identity over time? What makes something the same thing across changes? Is it the material? The form? The function? The memories attached to it? The paperwork? (Okay, maybe not the paperwork, unless we’re talking about a particularly bureaucratic ship.)

II. The Players in the Persistence Game: Defining Our Terms

Before we get too lost in the weeds, let’s clarify some key terms. Think of these as the players in our persistence drama.

• Persistence: The ability of an object to exist over time, despite undergoing changes. Think of it as the object’s "stick-to-it-iveness." 💪
• Identity: What makes an object that object, and not something else. It’s the object’s essence, its "je ne sais quoi." ✨
• Change: Alterations in an object’s properties or qualities. This is the constant disruptor, the agent of chaos. 😈
• Object: Anything that can be referred to, from a physical entity (like a chair 🪑) to an abstract concept (like justice⚖️).

III. Competing Theories: Wrestling with Reality

Now, let’s look at some of the major philosophical contenders vying to explain how persistence works.

A. Endurantism (The "Sticking Around" Theory)

• Core Idea: An object exists wholly present at each moment in time. It’s like a solid block of time, existing fully at every point along its timeline.
• Analogy: Think of a statue. It’s completely present at 10 AM, and it’s still completely present at 11 AM, even if the sun has shifted and the shadows have changed.
• Pros: Intuitively appealing. Seems to match our everyday experience of seeing objects remain the same.
• Cons: Struggles to explain how an object can undergo change without becoming a different object. How can you be wholly the same if you’re also slightly different? It’s like trying to be both a cat 🐈 and a dog 🐕 simultaneously.
• Key Phrase: "Same object, different properties at different times."

B. Perdurantism (The "Time Slice" Theory)

• Core Idea: An object is not wholly present at each moment. Instead, it’s a series of temporal parts or "time slices" strung together.
• Analogy: Think of a movie. Each frame is a separate image, but when played in sequence, they create the illusion of continuous motion. Similarly, you’re a collection of "you-slices" connected across time.
• Pros: Neatly explains change. Each time slice can have different properties, and the object’s overall identity is maintained by the relationship between these slices.
• Cons: Counterintuitive. It implies that you’re not really you right now, but rather a tiny sliver of your total self. It also raises questions about what exactly connects these time slices. Is it just a random collection of "you-slices" or is there a stronger bond? And what happens if a "you-slice" gets lost? Does that change the overall you? 😱
• Key Phrase: "An object extends through time, composed of temporal parts."

C. Stage Theory (Perdurantism’s Cooler Cousin)

• Core Idea: A specific type of Perdurantism. Instead of temporal parts, an object is a series of stages. Each stage is momentary and doesn’t overlap with any other stage.
• Analogy: Imagine a play. Each act is a distinct stage. The actor playing Hamlet is different in each act, but they are all "Hamlet" in the context of the play.
• Pros: Provides a clear and seemingly logical framework for dealing with the problem of change and persistence.
• Cons: Requires a radical departure from our ordinary ways of thinking about identity and existence. It also suggests that we are merely a collection of momentary stages and not the same person we were in the past or will be in the future.
• Key Phrase: "An object is a series of non-overlapping stages."

D. Presentism (The "Only Now" Theory)

• Core Idea: Only the present moment is real. The past is gone, the future doesn’t exist yet. Therefore, persistence is an illusion. We just perceive objects as persisting because we keep encountering similar, but distinct, objects in the present.
• Analogy: Imagine flipping through a photo album. Each photo is a separate snapshot of a person. You perceive them as the same person, but in reality, each photo is a distinct image.
• Pros: Eliminates the need to explain how objects endure through time, as they don’t actually endure!
• Cons: Highly counterintuitive. It denies the reality of the past and the future, which seems to contradict our experience and our understanding of history. Also, where did the photo album come from? Wasn’t there a past? 🤯
• Key Phrase: "Only the present exists."

E. Four-Dimensionalism (The "Spacetime Worm" Theory)

• Core Idea: Objects are not just three-dimensional entities existing in space, but four-dimensional entities existing in spacetime. They are like "spacetime worms" that stretch from the past to the future.
• Analogy: Think of a fossil. It’s a physical object existing in the present, but it also embodies a past era. Similarly, you are a "spacetime worm" that incorporates your entire life history.
• Pros: Provides a comprehensive framework for understanding persistence and change. It acknowledges the reality of both the past and the future, and it explains how objects can endure through time by existing as four-dimensional entities.
• Cons: Requires a significant shift in our way of thinking about space and time. It may also be difficult to reconcile with our intuitive sense of being three-dimensional beings existing in a three-dimensional world.
• Key Phrase: "Objects are four-dimensional entities existing in spacetime."

IV. Identity Criteria: The Rules of the Game

So, how do we decide whether something is the same object after a change? Philosophers have proposed various identity criteria:

• Numerical Identity: Strict sameness. If A and B are numerically identical, they are the very same thing. This is the holy grail of persistence. 🏆
• Qualitative Identity: Similarity of properties. If A and B are qualitatively identical, they share many of the same characteristics. This is more about resemblance than strict sameness. Think identical twins. 👯‍♀️ They are qualitatively identical (similar appearance, traits), but not numerically identical (they are two separate individuals).
• Spatiotemporal Continuity: An object persists if it exists continuously in space and time. This is often used in our everyday judgments. If you see your car parked in the same spot where you left it, you assume it’s the same car, even if it has accumulated some dust. 🚗💨
• Causal Connection: An object persists if there is a causal relationship between its earlier and later states. This emphasizes the importance of history and process. The acorn causes the oak tree. 🌳 -> 🌳🌳🌳

V. Practical Implications: Why Should We Care?

Okay, this all sounds wonderfully abstract, but why should we, as supposedly practical beings, care about the Problem of Persistence?

• Legal Implications: Imagine a car accident. Is the repaired car the same car for insurance purposes? What about identity theft? Is the person using your identity the same person? These issues hinge on understanding persistence and identity.
• Personal Identity: What makes you you? Is it your memories? Your body? Your personality? If you undergo a radical personality change, are you still the same person? This is crucial for understanding responsibility, moral accountability, and the meaning of life. 🤯
• Technological Advancements: As we develop advanced technologies like AI and cloning, the Problem of Persistence becomes increasingly relevant. If we create a perfect clone of you, is it you? If we upload your consciousness to a computer, are you still alive? These are not just science fiction questions anymore. 🤖

VI. The Takeaway: Embrace the Uncertainty

So, what’s the answer to the Problem of Persistence? 🤷‍♀️

Frankly, there isn’t a single, universally accepted solution. Each theory has its strengths and weaknesses, and the "correct" answer likely depends on the specific context and the level of philosophical scrutiny you’re willing to apply.

The real value of grappling with this problem is not finding a definitive answer, but rather:

• Developing Critical Thinking Skills: The Problem of Persistence forces us to examine our assumptions about identity, change, and reality.
• Appreciating the Complexity of Existence: The world is not as simple as it seems. Even seemingly straightforward concepts like "same" and "different" can be surprisingly slippery.
• Embracing Uncertainty: It’s okay not to have all the answers. In fact, the most interesting questions are often the ones that resist easy solutions.

So, the next time you look in the mirror and wonder if you’re the same person you were yesterday, remember the Ship of Theseus, the time slices, and the spacetime worms. Embrace the uncertainty, and enjoy the philosophical ride!

(Lecture Ends)

Now, who’s up for that pizza? 🍕🍕🍕