[zoroaster]

I think asking the question makes sense even if the answer is "no answer". It's interesting to think about and to explore, and helpful to get the input of others.

By the "sameness" point - I mean that in a deterministic universe where initial conditions are precisely the same, that the same universe structure will continue to arise and play out over and over again (putting aside quantum uncertainty). While the "ship" may not be the "same" ship, it will still be a ship and not a refrigerator.