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This is not a theory, but a thought experiment invented by ancient Greek philosophers. The essence of this thought experiment is as follows.
The legendary ship of Theseus was kept in Athens. Since the ship was wooden and slowly fell into disrepair, it had to be repaired over time, some parts were replaced. And since a lot of time has passed since the time of Theseus, we can safely assume that all parts of the ship were replaced over time.
Question: Can a ship in Athens be considered the ship of Theseus if all parts of it have been replaced, and why?
The theoretical significance of this thought experiment is to explore different points of view regarding the problem of identity. What makes this ship this particular ship, and this city this particular city? The range of possible answers is large and reflects deeper differences between philosophical trends.
The practical significance of this thought experiment is clear, for example, if we project the same problem on the restoration of architectural monuments. Where is the boundary between “restoration” and “remodeling”? What defines a building as historical?
Another variant of the practical question related to the problem of identity is the question of the historical continuity of States. How long does the state remain the same state? Is Mexico, for example, an extension of the Aztec empire, and Italy an extension of Ancient Rome?
The name, home port, and registration number (if any) have not been changed, so this is the same ship. Even after a thousandth major overhaul.