Week 10: conclusion to the course – part i: continuity of identity

1. In addition to reflecting on what you have learned about aging throughout the course, take a moment to watch the following video and ponder the famous thought experiment: “The Ship of Theseus”:

Your assignment is to consider the following:

Just like the famous Athenian ship of old, we all continue to grow and change in a magnitude of ways over our lifespan – cells replicate and divide, immature thoughts are replaced with mature versions, and even your social skills have improved over time (for some, anyway!). Paradoxically, have you been changing while also remaining the same? Do any of the changes we experience in life result in a “new” us? Reflect on how this classic philosophical debate may be applied to Lifespan development.