The Theory of Solipsism

Are You The Only One That Actually Exists?

Have you ever thought that maybe you were the only person alive? That everyone else was an illusion created by your mind? If so, you may be a believer in Solipsism.

Definition:

The idea that you are the only one that exists and everyone else is just an illusion is an oversimplified version of Solipsism. However, it’s not only one that people commonly bring up but also one that’s not too far from this philosophy’s central tenets. According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, someone who supports Solipsism believes that existence is what they experience. In other words, they think that anything outside their minds cannot be proven. As the Encyclopedia puts it, to a Solipsist, there is no “fear,” there is only “my fear.”

Background Theories:

We have not been able to pinpoint exactly who invented it .. Nobody has explicitly said, “hey, I adopted a new way of thought – Solipsism.” However, after researching through the Encyclopedia and Philosophy Basics, I found that its name has emerged over time from the works of Sophist Gorgias and René Descartes.

Gorgias is known for claiming the following:

Nothing Exists
But even if something did exist, we could know nothing about it
And even if we could know something about it, we could never communicate our findings

He heavily doubted the notion of existence beyond a personal level – sounds a bit like Solipsism, right?

According to Philosophy Basics, Descartes also captured Solipsism in his view that people understand the world around them from their own experiences, leading him to trust his conscience over his perceived world. This way of thought was known as Cartesian Skepticism (doubt of the outside world as opposed to the world within one’s mind). Again, I only hear “Solipsism.”

What Do Others Think?

Though some may ponder the thought of it at one point in their life or another, most people do not wholeheartedly believe in Solipsism. Philosophy Basics notes that it’s often considered a “bankrupt philosophy” with faulty reasoning, leading to critics creating and posting several memes about the topic – critics like Reddit User Juranur …

What About You?

Now that you know Solipsism’s definition and history, have you believed in this theory all along? Do you now accept an idea you hadn’t heard of before? Or do you think this way of thinking is just ludicrous, like Juranur?

Anyway, I hope this article sparks your interest in Solipsism and other similar philosophies!

Want to Learn More?

Stay tuned for more philosophy-related articles. Consider visiting the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, or PhilPapers. They’ve always helped me when I need extra explanations or want to know more about the world around me! Let me know if there are any philosophies you’d like me to cover next!

Until then, take care,

Riya Dhaliwal