A lot to think about Noson...
It seems to add up to "you can't step on the same Ship of Theseus twice" to paraphrase Anaximander. A wonderfully detailed answer to the posed problems. I especially like the thought at the end of needing to study the way we study the universe. That is really the essence of the learning game, to see the universe in or as yourself while seeing the universe as it is without your own biases.
Yours is probably one of the last essays I'll read and rate this round. I would enjoy knowing what you think of mine. It's about what goes to infinity and what gets contained.
All the Best,
Jonathan