Sandwichtestaus

Sandwichtestaus is a theoretical concept explored in certain philosophical and logical discussions, primarily related to the nature of identity and persistence through time. It posits a hypothetical scenario where an object, let's call it Object A, is gradually disassembled and its components are replaced one by one with identical new components until none of the original material remains. Simultaneously, a second object, Object B, is constructed using the original components of Object A, in the exact same arrangement. The core question then becomes: which object, if either, is the "real" continuation of Object A?

The Sandwichtestaus thought experiment highlights the philosophical problem of what constitutes an object's identity. If identity is tied to material composition, then Object B, being made of the original parts, would seem to be the true continuation. However, if identity is related to continuity of form, function, or spatio-temporal path, then Object A, having undergone a gradual transformation, might be considered the original. This scenario challenges intuitive notions of what makes an object the same object over time and explores the complexities of material versus non-material criteria for identity. It is often used to illustrate the difficulties in defining criteria for object persistence, particularly in contexts like ship of Theseus paradoxes.