haveing bad depression and anxiety over this...........please help me out?

Question

i just need a book by a famous philosopher or just any book that philisophicaly proves that there is an external world independent from our perceptions and that we DO co-exist with other minds and objects. it is called solipsism and is driving me crazy and is making me feel detached and extremely lonely. are there any good refutations or books that can help me??

i dont see the meaning of life if its not real. theres no point and it takes everything that has ever meant anything to you away. i hate it. its the most desolate feeling ever

Answer 1

Odd the same exact idea gives me hope.

I find it comforting.

Try the course in miracles. It will probably help.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

I am passionate about philosophy as well. What worries me about you is that the ideas you have gained through philosophy are only superficial, and therefore, are making you depressed.

A book on many different types of philosophies that may interest you would be "Sophie's World" by Jostein Garrder. It gives an in depth look at philosophy and what it means to be a philosopher. The author describes philosophy as a magician pulling a rabbit out of a giant top hat. Common, ignorant people nestle themselves down into the deepest "fur of the rabbit." Philosophers, however attempt to climb the hairs and peer into the magician's eyes. But that's not all they try do, they also try to call down to the people to get them to "see" this amazing sight. Yet people are comfortable where they are (as you may have noticed through some of the comments you got telling you to "get a grip" or that "philosophy is whack"...whatever).

Another book (dialogue/story, none the less) I would recommend is "The Allegory of the Cave" By Plato. It explains how we are fooled by our perceptions and what we think to be real is nothing more than an illusion.

You may find through reading these stories or other research that being an actual philosopher can be a lonely experience. Not many are willing to follow you "up the rabbit's fur" or "out of the cave of illusion." People have a difficult comprehending an idea that is so radical. You may find meaning in life through philosophy, but you can't expect anyone but yourself to answer it. A philosopher must remebmber that it is their job to enlinghten the people, and they will be greatly ridiculed and feel isolated for attempting to do so, however, it is a risk all philosophers must take.

I hope I helped you in some way, sorry that my answer is so long...I just am enjoy Philosophy. Thx!

Answer 3

You are thinking way too deep and you are not read for it. You need to relax. Do some mind yoga. Release your anxieties. Say a mantra (prayers). Then, get a hobby. And, above all do some physical exercise!!! Then, when you are ready to come back and learn with an open mind, you will understand that reality does exist and even this philosopher whose opinion is somewhat different from your own, is living in reality. Watch some Star Trek. It explains a lot of theories about various philosophies in a more figurative manner.

Answer 4

Ha ha. You're funny. We should talk.

Hmm. Something to make you feel like you're real ... eat an apple. Hug a fluffy cat. Pull weeds. Watch a movie - 'The Matrix,' 'Fight Club.' Or a happy movie.

Anyway - rather sadly enough - there is one thing that proves we're all here together. It's violence and murder. People do both horrible and wonderful things to each other all the time.

K. Take some meditation classes. Read 'Ways of Seeing' by John Berger (it's like cultural critique and discusses art and advertising). Read something by Kurt Vonnegut. He's a humanist and always makes me feel better.

Answer 5

Don't despair-- philosophy is only meant to make us think, not to make us sad. If there is no stagnant external reality, then that means we are architects of our own lives, that we actively participate in the formation of our experiences. Our perceptions influence our actions, and thus alter our future reality. If this is becoming too cumbersome to read, then you are NORMAL, and everything is ok. I'm sorry I can't help you by recommending a book. I took philospohy years ago, and I loved it, but I can't remember all of the existentialist philosophers. Try Jean-Paul Sartre.

Answer 6

You are absolutely correct in you assertion that a non-real "meaning of life" is...well...meaningless. I used to see life the same way. I found this verse in the bible - John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Upon further investigation of this book (the Bible), and with a recreated spirit, I can testify that the answer to your question resides here.

God bless.

Answer 7

I certainly have stress yet no longer melancholy and that i think of that melancholy could be worse. such as you mentioned you you merely sense valueless and lonely and so forth while stress i'm able to stay with yet its merely very stressful whilst its uncontrolled such as you mentioned with the panic assaults and so forth. even nonetheless i dont be afflicted by depresssion I certainly have been depressed so i be attentive to what the two sense like and as much because it sucks and is a foul component to assert i could incredibly have stress than melancholy.

Answer 8

There is a book I can recommend you. It is the worlds best seller. It has philosophers and prophecies, action, adventure, and the meaning of life. It has not just one author, but an unknown number.

In case you haven't figured it out its the Bible.

Answer 9

Try this site, I thought it explained it rather well. I believe you may be misunderstanding the concept. You can't find a philosopher who wrote about it and embraced it because there are none.

http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/s/solipsis.htm

Answer 10

Seriously, you don't need a philosopher to refute anything. If this is truly disrupting your everyday functioning, you may have something medically wrong with you. No joke.