Philosophy: Explaining "Type" & "Token" Identity and Theseus's Paradox

I give a brief introduction to the: "Type-Token Distinction" in Philosophy and I use this distinction to solve Theseus's paradox.

Suggested Resources:

1) http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/types-tokens/#WhaTok
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type-token_distinction
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus

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[bonzihunter]

so does this mean that if I trim my nails or cut my hair I am no longer token identical to my old self? And by extension is it true that every single moment I cease to be token identical because individual cells in my body are constantly dying and being replaced?

[LaughingMan0X]

Yes. There is no such thing as a "static and enduring self." The thing we refer to as the "self" or "ourself" is a transitory self

Although we are the same kind of thing that we are (humans), we (our bodies) go through numerable token instances in the course of our lifetime; hence, in a strict sense of the word identity, our "selves" are only identical in one token instant (to itself)

Despite obvious similarities between our analogous tokens instances, we aren't identical to our old self

[nbrader]

By defining 'type' as something general and 'token' as something concrete does nothing to prevent the concepts of 'general' and 'concrete' being arbitrary themselves. Moreso, if these concepts aren't arbitrary then I don't see how anything can be refered to as a 'token' as the act of reference is inherently general.

You say the token "Theseus's ship" no longer exists after one plank is replaced, I say it only exists as a thought in my head and that the thought is only identical to itself.

[LaughingMan0X]

Of course "types" exist in your head. "Types don't exist in reality (they exist in the mind), although they "refer" to sets of objects that do exist in reality

Our concept of types is derived from empirical objects we encounter everyday.

If our concept of something is analogous to the way that thing actually is in some meaningful way, then our concept is valid (not necessarily sound), if our concept of something is disconnected from reality, then it's a floating abstraction

[AAPLATFORM]

***** Stars

[XOmniverse]

Object oriented programming basically applies the type/token thing to programming concepts.

Class = Type

Object = Token

Also, ancient Greek mythology is so much more awesome than Christian mythology.

[Israe5l]

"Laughingman" "Is". This example is misleading. Because there is no two equal tokens.

[JoakimfromAnka]

Isn't this just a matter of an identity vs a pattern? Btw can a pattern have identity? :S

[HyperColours]

@LaughingMan0X I agree in physical terms but in psychological patterns people can remain consistent as in fix identity or responses.

[DavidYeshiwas]

This is exactly what I was looking for.

[LaughingMan0X]

"Theseus's ship" implies a conception of property or "ownership."

I.e. human beings prescribing normative standards entailing how and what someone "ought to" and "ought not to" possess.

However this conception (of ownership) is purely social, and although the type-token distinction may have implications upon what is considered "justly acquired property," the institution of property is not ontological.

I invoked "Theseus's ship" for the sake of proving a point.

[insaniac82]

I agree with you. However, philosophers are concerned about what makes something type "Theseus' ship". A type "ship", as you mentioned, can be satisfied by having the properties "seaworthy", "hull", "rudder", and "power source". To say something is "Theseus' ship" is asking for additional to that of a simple ship. To say that the it's still a type ship tells us nothing about it being Theseus' ship. There are many objects in this world that are type ship. What makes it type "Theseus' ship".