Comeuppance’s Philosophy Corner: The Knife of Theseus

[Comeuppance]

I ran into a description of an Emerson for sale the other day, and it gave me pause - much like the idea of combining two topics like knives and philosophy in a post, both being topics that would individually send 99% of the population into a spontaneous boredom coma. Regardless, here is the description:

“mini roadhouse framelock damasteel

started as a EKI mini roadhouse but had Full Titanium tank pivot clip framelock/ scale conversion and CF backspacer
that wasn't enough after a while so I had a damasteel reblade with ti thumbdisk done too.”

So, my question is... Is that still an Emerson knife? I would argue that this has really just become an unwitting collaboration between different makers to build a custom knife, but, when did it stop being an Emerson knife? When the handle was changed, I would probably have thought of it as another PoBoy Emerson. Had it just been re-bladed, I would also probably still think of it as an Emerson that had just been customized.

How much of a knife can you change before it just becomes a different knife? Additionally, doesn't this edge uncomfortably close to some variety of trademark infringement?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Platonic idealism. The ideal Emerson knife is an abstraction that we realize as a concept rather than a physical embodiment. So no matter how much an Emerson is changed as long as it maintains an inherent Emersonosity that we recognize it remains an Emerson knife.

Waka waka waka!

 

[The Aflac Duck]

The knife identifies however it wants to be identified. Who are you to put a label on its identity?

 

[danbot]

I like knifes!

 

[FullMetalJackass]

There is no knife.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

There is no knife.

Schrödinger's knife?

 

[FullMetalJackass]

Schrödinger's knife?

Actually you might have something here, as the knife is indeed in a state of being, or not being.

 

[SpySmasher]

As Kierkegaard said, "subjectivity is truth."

 

[jaseman]

I love my grandfather's hammer. I use it so much, I've replaced the head twice, and the handle four times.

 

[Wowbagger]

Glad you brought this up.
Today I was picturing a 110, titanium ends (bolsters ?) carbon fiber handle fairly grippy (peal ply ?) . . . and . . . wait for it . . . an axis lock.

It is still easily a 110. Blade shape same / handle shape same. Weight in the hand . . . totally unrecognizable.
I want one.

Up is down and side ways is straight ahead.
It's hard to kill a horse with a flute.
Tie two birds together; though they have four wings they cannot fly.

Quotes from one of my favorite movies when I was a kid : Circle Of Iron (the silent flute)
Here's one more line : We want someone who can bind an elephant with a spider's web . . . not stun him with a kick.

 

[GatorMedic]

The knife identifies however it wants to be identified. Who are you to put a label on its identity?

You win the internet today lol

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

But what pronoun does it identify as? It, they, Kershaw?

 

[ScooterG]

Definitely not still an Emerson. The old Emerson still exists somewhere as a blade and handle that can be put back together.

Also,

 

[G. Scott H.]

If a tree falls on a guy's foot in the forest and there's no one there to hear him scream profanities, did he actually cuss?

 

[Sosa]

If it’s an emerson blade it’s an Emerson.

 

[SpySmasher]

Glad you brought this up.
Today I was picturing a 110, titanium ends (bolsters ?) carbon fiber handle fairly grippy (peal ply ?) . . . and . . . wait for it . . . an axis lock.

It is still easily a 110. Blade shape same / handle shape same. Weight in the hand . . . totally unrecognizable.
I want one.

So do I!

 

[Korean Hog]

Philosophy...philosophy....it's not an Emerson knife. It's your knife. If your friends or family found it laying around they probably wouldn't say that's an Emerson knife, they'd say that's (your name)'s knife.

Without philosphy: majorly pimped and bastardized Emerson that you enjoy

But ScooterG Is right, if the original blade and handle are floating around somewhere, then you've got two knives, one a build-your-own custom thing, and two an Emerson broken down in to parts.

 

[Sonnydaze]

If it arrives in a factory box with a couple of BandAids inside..it's probably an Emerson.
If you use the BandAids within three minutes, it's damn-sure an Emerson.
Don't ask me how I know...

 

[Charlie Mike]

The machine may be Canon or HP, but your boss will still ask you to Xerox the weekly sales reports on it.

 

[Sosa]

If it arrives in a factory box with a couple of BandAids inside..it's probably an Emerson.
If you use the BandAids within three minutes, it's damn-sure an Emerson.
Don't ask me how I know...

As an Emerson owner I have plenty of super glue on hand.