The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned from Crete had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their places, in so much that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers, for the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same.
- Quotes about Theseus (Hero)
Plutarch, in Theseus, as translated by John Dryden
Inspired by a quote about Theseus, "The ship wherein Theseus and the youth of Athens returned from Crete had thirty oars, and was preserved by the Athenians down even to the time of Demetrius Phalereus, for they took away the old planks as they decayed, putting in new and stronger timber in their places, in so much that this ship became a standing example among the philosophers, for the logical question of things that grow; one side holding that the ship remained the same, and the other contending that it was not the same." The titled responsion is "Either Oar". What follows is subject to revision, do you have any suggestions?
Saying the same thing is kinda like repeating yourself. Redundancy is considered bad form. Direct and to the point is the hallmark of effective communication. My concern with this approach is slightly rhetorical. I am talking about convincing speech. What do you have to say on the topic? Identity is the allusion that goes with this story. Sameness through time is up for discussion. What do you think?
