There is a thought experiment called ‘The Ship of Theseus.’ It goes something like this:

Theseus’s ship is on display as a museum piece in the harbor. After some time the sails are damaged from the elements and need to be replaced. Years later the wooden planks on the deck are waterlogged and warped so those get swapped out for new pieces as well. Eventually, every single part has been replaced. Is it still Theseus’ ship? And if you reassemble all the parts that you have removed to create a second ship, is that the original?

The answer is that it depends on your definitions and this is why I bring it up. Let’s say instead of a ship, it’s a person, and instead of decay in physical condition over time, it’s decay in moral character. How many positive actions will it take to make the person good? And can you change into a good person, or are you forever marred by your past?

weighing your sins

Netflix’s BoJack Horseman is a show that dives into the deep end of this discussion and refuses to come up for air.

In the penultimate episode of season one Downer Ending, BoJack goes to Diane and asks her if he’s a good person, and she doesn’t know what to say. His question turns into pleading and soon he is begging for her- for anyone to validate him and tell him that he is good. He wants to hear this because he knows that he isn’t good and needs to be told otherwise.