On Jan 20, 7:42�pm,
j...@wilkins.id.au (John S. Wilkins) wrote:
> > >In article <
s1pmf8ljs3ieone5avsq7qqvaa8deth...@4ax.com>,
> > > jillery <
69jpi...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > >> On Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:03:15 +1100,
j...@wilkins.id.au (John S.
> > >> >> In article <
1kwzqo6.13sfq1xv96albN%j...@wilkins.id.au>,
> > >> >> �
j...@wilkins.id.au (John S. Wilkins) wrote:
>
> > >> >> > > > [*psst* Mitchell, that old guy with the white beard is your
> > >> >> > > > rabbi, not God. No, it doesn't matter what your mother said
> > >> >> > > > about him speaking for God...]
>
> > >> >> > > And how you know that?
>
> > >> >> > Satan told me, and he has an honest face.
> > >> >> > --
>
> > >> >> Johnny, have you ever considered a career in the Church? I could not
> > >> >> even type that one in a straight line.
>
> > >> >I did first year of theology towards an Anglican evangelical degree,
> > >> >with a view to becoming a minister. Long time ago. Another planet.
>
> > >> I'm betting both planets are grateful you followed a different path.
>
> > >On what grounds are the Dr. (philosophy) Wilkins �of today the same
> > >entity as the theology student of yesteryear? Good ole Ship of Theseus
> > >problem.
>
> > I'm unfamiliar with the Ship of Theseus, but I am glad to know that
> > the Dr. (philosophy) Wilkins of today exists on this planet, however
> > and whenever he got here.
>
> The Ship of Theseus is a thought experiment of Hobbes', in which
> Theseus' Ship is slowly repaired with new parts, but somebody keeps all
> the old bits and eventually rebuilds the Ship, so now there are two: one
> that comprises all the original parts and the other that Theseus is
> sailing in. Which is the Ship of Theseus?
In the car world, they are called "bitsa" cars. I know of two cars
that claim to be one and the same car.
The original was very badly crashed, but since they are rare they are
worth restoring. The chassis was replaced with a new chassis from the
original chassis manufacturer, and off the original jig, with many of
the original undamaged parts. The original chassis number, as is
allowed, was used on the replacement. This is standard practice for
badly damaged chassis where you have the original registration
documents.
The very badly damaged chassis was sold; unusually, with the original
chassis registration plate but without the registration documents.
This was an oversight; the plate is normally retained. Or perhaps it
was deliberate, since a scrap chassis is normally not worth much, as
it is the plate that "validates" the original build and hence has the
value.
This chassis was sent to the original chassis manufacturer, and
rebuilt off the original jig, with second hand and new parts to
complete the vehicle. The original plate is registered on this chassis
too; and the original plate is there to prove it. Since there are no
checks on unique chassis numbers in the UK (they simply have to match
the registration document VIN or "vehicle identity number", a quite
separate identifier), there are now two very rare cars of this type
and vintage where there was once only one.
In the eyes of the car fraternity, one of them owns a clone. I know
them both, and neither is willing to admit that his is not the real
thing and just a bitsa.