e-cigs = Philosopher's Axe (Theseus Paradox)

[eskimoroll]

If you guys aren't familiar with the Philosopher's Axe paradox, it goes something like this: A philosopher has an axe in which the head eventually wears out and needs to be replaced. After some time the handle breaks but the head is still fine so he replaces that. The question is whether or not the axe is now the same one he started with.

E-cigs definitely seems to raise that philosophical paradox on a regular basis. If I replace my battery twice and my atomizer three times, is it still the same DSE 901 that I started with?

 

[combovan]

If you guys aren't familiar with the Philosopher's Axe paradox, it goes something like this: A philosopher has an axe in which the head eventually wears out and needs to be replaced. After some time the handle breaks but the head is still fine so he replaces that. The question is whether or not the axe is now the same one he started with.

E-cigs definitely seems to raise that philosophical paradox on a regular basis. If I replace my battery twice and my atomizer three times, is it still the same DSE 901 that I started with?

short answer is yes its the same model number ....
long answer is yes ..its the same model number upgraded with new parts.

kinda like a car with the engine blowing out....still same model car ...just new parts
combovan

 

[Heed]

One answer:

It's the same idea (universal) of an axe, but a different instantiation of that idea than the original.

So, it's the same idea (universal) of an e-cig (DSE901), but a different instantiation of that idea than the original.

Depending upon your metaphysics, you could answer this in numerous ways.

 

[ZambucaLu]

I originally bought my penstyle kit from bestecig. Then I bought some atomizers from puresmoker....but continued to buy my batts from bestecig. I've used carts from bestecig, puresmoker and johnson creek. I think the only thing that's really sure to remain the same is the charger....lol

So what does that mean?

Lu

 

[MagusSteele]

The answer to that is easy to some,
it all depends how the question is asked.

axe is now the same one he started with.

Answer: No (its a new one)
Answer2: Yes (its still an axe)
After the head OR handle is replaced, then its only repaired, once everything has been replaced, its different, but it is Still your "First" axe, you only have one, and it IS still an axe.
The Original BatMobile (60s TV), is still titled as an Oldsmobile, but is it?
Its still a car, but its not the original turbine car.

 

[bribri]

Your statement about the Philosphers axe is quite intuitive. You will see that this issue is exactly why the pricing on these things is so diverse. Vendors would like "one piece" of it to be the "main" so they can work on development of that, and charge a lot for that, and little for the others. However, the ecig as it stands now each piece is really the same price and same worth, except for the carts.... And you will see some suppliers being silly enough to charge upwards for 30 dollars for some pieces, trying to claim this as the "main"... But its really a hoax. Each piece has a real value, and should be around 8-12 dollars.. Be it Atomizor, charger, battery, even passthru should hit that price mark eventually. Didnt I read something in my history books as a kid about "interchangable parts" during the industrial revolution... Yeah, thats what the ecig has. You really should have no ecig part loyalty, and consider it a different ecig, but your loyalty should remain with same vender if possible, and same style product. I mean... You could say BriBri, you technically own 8 901B's... And that may be the truth if you put all my pieces together... But to me, I own one 901b that will not quit... he he he...

 

[Trumpybloke]

but more importantly , if an atomiser goes "Phut" in the forest and there is no-one there to hear it, can you still vape............????