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PonderAtlas printable field sheet

The Ship of Theseus field sheet

Compare an initial intuition with competing accounts of identity, then record the strongest objection and a revised position.

Short route
20 minutes
Deep route
50 minutes
Revised
2026-07-16

20-minute route

  1. 2 min: Read the topic setup on the canonical guide.
  2. 3 min: Record an initial answer before discussion.
  3. 10 min: Compare two reasons and test one variation.
  4. 5 min: Write the strongest objection and a revised position.

50-minute extension

  1. 5 min: Silent reading and first position.
  2. 15 min: Small-group reason mapping.
  3. 15 min: Swap positions and defend the strongest rival.
  4. 10 min: Test a nearby case or changed context.
  5. 5 min: Final reflection and remaining uncertainty.

Prompt sequence

  1. 01

    Which ship has the stronger claim to be the original?

  2. 02

    Does identity depend on material, continuity, function, history, or convention?

  3. 03

    Would your rule still work for a body, an institution, or a software system?

Position and process cues

  • Material continuity: The reconstructed ship has the stronger claim because it contains the original planks.
  • Spatiotemporal continuity: The maintained ship remains the ship because its career continues without a break.
  • Form and function: The ship persists by keeping its organization and practical role.
  • Historical continuity: A continuous causal and social history anchors the maintained ship.
  • Convention: Which ship counts depends on the purpose and rules of the classification.
  • Indeterminacy: The case may not have one uniquely correct answer once ordinary criteria split.