h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Firstly may I say how much I enjoyed this lecture.

Regarding humans as waves, in point of fact the enamel of your teeth is non-labile (which is to say that it is not broken down and re-deposited as a result of life processes, although there is an amount of surface exchange and re-calcification/fluoridation). The formation of certain secondary teeth occurs prior to birth so there are quite a lot of atoms in your body that are still present (as long as you are not edentulous or nearly so) that were present at the time of that childhood memory it was suggested that you bring to mind.

This does not affect the sense or meaning of the argument of course, anything that distinguishes your mental or intellectual identity is not defined by the identity of the matter that forms its' substance at any one time but strictly the one constant is found in the visible portion of your adult teeth.

As an aside I was once watching The Osmond Family on a black and white television and decided to turn the brightness down and, like the Cheshire Cat, the last thing to be seen was their teeth.

If I may attempt an unworthy parody:-

Humans had always assumed that what distinguished them from their rodent ancestors was their brains, their manipulative digits and opposable thumbs or even their digital watches but ultimately what really made the difference was that humans needed dental floss and mouthwash.

Celebaelin