20 March 2023
...so, where do you live?
Or, to put it another way.
Where do YOU live?
Or, as the great philosophers put it
Who are You? Who Am I?
Let’s park that question for now and consider the ancient Greek paradox.
Plutarchs’, The Ship of Theseus
In Plutarchs' hypothesised scenario, the hero, and mythical founder of Athens, Theseus, ventured out across the sea and slayed the mighty Minotaur in Crete and then sailed back to Athens. For a millennia, Theseus' ship was preserved as an honoured antiquity to his tribute.The parts are replaced with an identical ones when they rot.
Eventually, all of the thousands of parts have been replaced.
Is it still the ship of Theseus or something completely different?
Similarly, the human body is made up of approximately 724 trillion cells
As cells decay, they are replaced with new ones;
Eventually, a new set of cells has replaced all the old ones every seven to ten years.
Are you still the same YOU?
Were you the same YOU 10 years ago?
Will you be the same YOU in 10 years time?
If so, where does that YOU live?
In your body?
In your brain?
Somewhere else entirely?
Where does that YOU live?
A spirit realm, another dimension?
With God, the universe, a higher consciousness?
These questions have been pondered for thousands of years by some of the most enduring thinkers and philosophers.
It hasn’t been answered and remains a paradox
Where does that YOU live? Who Am I?
I don't have the answer to it, but I do remain curious, and I encourage you to always do the same.