Relinquishing solipsim.
There's nothing scarier than becoming a solipsist.
In many ways splitting one's self off from the rest of the world is scarier than suicide. The soul goes on living in a self-made purgatory.
Yet, there seems no way out of this predicament, or is there?
How does one stop being a solipsist once one?
In many ways splitting one's self off from the rest of the world is scarier than suicide. The soul goes on living in a self-made purgatory.
Yet, there seems no way out of this predicament, or is there?
How does one stop being a solipsist once one?
Comments (34)
The solipsist may deny that there is really anybody in disagreement at all, but will nevertheless find no traction in convincing what he thinks to be a figment of his imagination who seems to disagree with him that they are not real and so that their take on what else is or isn't real doesn't matter, especially if that supposed figment of his imagination is himself also a solipsist and so thinks that the first person is the actual figment of the imagination. The egotist, likewise, will find no route to moral agreement with someone whom he explicitly thinks is of no moral consideration, especially if that other person is also an egoist and thinks likewise of the first person.
So even if solipsism is true, it makes no practical difference on how to go about life. You need to act the same way anyway.
Regarding the first paragraph, there's are subconscious and unconscious entailments here.
Regarding second, I don't think solipsism in some Solaristic sense excludes the potential for disagreement. Psychological issues, would be dealt with at such a fast rate that people would literally overnight become perfect.
So let's assume that the impression of nature, of beauty, of colors have qualia to them in such a fashion that context of them in the brain, in the soul (that I think exists) makes them special to the person in space and time by the unique experiences they make in a person's mentality. This creates a special kind of solipsism as well such that the true magnificence of experiences overall has this subtle, non-investigative quality of person that is firmly set by context, a contextualism in the brain, in the soul. Sure, overt feelings are now fairly easy to determine by for example fMRI and other. But this is not the issue, it is the depth of contextuality in the mind that makes those other qualities of feelings inaccessible overall because they are impossible to describe and impossible to entirely investigate.
The mystery of the World, one type of religious experience, "God's temple" in us in the grand World, much stronger too with the enhancement of science and questions over existence. So I say that to live is to have qualia, solipsism and contextualism in this fashion, the imprint on each and everyone by the World as a whole!
Good life, everyone!
Note: One account of Qualia can be found in Philosophy of Mind, 2nd ed. by Jaegwon Kim, chapter 8, for instance.
Note 2: I use Solipsism in the Contextual Solipsism sense.
Note 3: I think it's fair to say there are degrees of Solipsism.
Stop thinking about it.
Worst possible outcome?
Why is there continued fascination with this topic? it gets beaten to death on this forum at least once a month.
https://www.google.com/search?q=solipsism+definition
It is not implausible that a solipsist might arise.
Perhaps but it doesn't necessarily have to be all that you've entailed. From my understanding of solipsism, it seems like a rational fallback point in beginning to question what is an objective/absolute truth. Perhaps I'm mistaken as one of the main principles seems to be the self conscious is all that can be known as opposed to all that is known for sure, presumably based on some sort of 'ism' that insists perspective ie. what can be observed or known with the human senses are inherently subjective. Might be a deviation (or simply not solipsism at all) but I imagine a rational thinker would use this as a mental floor to stand on and build so to speak as opposed to a mental ceiling to be trapped under. Anything to that effect, where the person actually begins to feel as you describe could be 'Solipsism syndrome' or depersonalization disorder at worst. Perhaps it may inevitably cause it? I subscribe to the idea there are some poison pill philosophies.
Some people especially online hold or debate views they don't neccesarily live by, often just for sake of debate. I've done so a few times. I'm sitting in my house right now. My cat is nearby on a table. What makes any of those objects 'real'? The fact I can see the walls around me, that I can touch the table, and if I pet the cat it will purr? Perhaps. But so would in a dream.
I imagine a solipsist would begin to gravitate away from the idea when they realise the premise that just because you can see, hear, and feel something doesn't mean it exists really doesn't grant anyone any special privileges. What if the Alexa machine had a glitch and decided it was real? Would it be your new roommate and your equal?
Anyone interested in the idea should watch "Twilight Zone - Shadow Play". It's a really good episode about a stubborn solipsist ... who just so happened to be right. :)
I think, so. What more is there to know apart from everything there is to know?
*Speaking as if God were a solipsist, which he/she/it is.
I'm actually torrenting it right now.
Both, haha. Dunno, why are you asking?
The most horrifying in my life has been seen.
What? Did I think something out loud again? :D
Hell has exits, one hopes. The Buddha on your shoulder might whisper something about "mindfulness" and the imaginary friend on the other might say something about benign distraction.
When a solipsist isn't thinking that he is a solipsist, is he a solipsist in that moment?
Solipsism is a manifestation of loneliness most likely. Find a distraction and don't indulge in nightmares.
I cannot for the life of me see how solipsism is even tenable. The solipsist must make the silly assumption that he, The Self, is the center of the universe, which is of his own mind’s creation. Meanwhile others, who are the features of his universe, can watch him grow old and die, bury him, while the universe remains unaffected.
Isn't that a natural thing to say?
Quoting NOS4A2
Yes, of course.
Quoting NOS4A2
Technically, yes, but, to some point, no?
I think it revolves around what you think the Self is. What is at the center of this universe? Who or what perceives it? Where does the Self end and where does the universe begin? It seems to me these questions are either unanswerable or completely avoided.
What makes you say that, Nosferatu?
It's helpful to come to terms with the fact that you aren't actually a solipsist.
I never want to become one, even though I always end up being one at night...
I've toyed with solipsism and have found it psychologically unsustainable. The only real solipsists are schizophrenic.
See Louis A. Sass's Madness and Modernism for details. I may have mentioned this book before.
I'll give it a read sometime. It seems like a hot pick nowadays.
"the view or theory that the self is all that can be known to exist."
Quoting Shawn
It is quite easy really. Once you know that your self exists, you can infer the existence of other things and people.
Brilliant!
A lot of first-hand accounts of true schizophrenic solipsism by extremely intellectual and articulate schizophrenics.
Were you referring to my post? not sure....
What is a delusion?
If you want to go down that path, then life itself is a delusion ... and certainly truth is a delusion.