Your thoughts on Solipsism?

Question

Solipsism is an interesting philosophical idea, one that think is impossible to prove wrong. Prove me wrong.
Any opinion is welcome, i wanna hear all aspects of this.

Ohh and i dont believe in Solipsism, although i sometimes have flashes when i think i should. Its impossible to explain. Anyway, peace.

Ohh, and to all people that dont know what Solipsism is the theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.

Well im sorry my question didnt entertain you. Jesus

Well im sorry my question didnt entertain you. Go look at more entertaining questions, i think the adolescents section is just right for you.

Henry Rollins, nope havent read anything by him, ill check him out though, thanks. =)

Grayure, you put that well, thanks man.

Answer 1

Just because you can spin a theory that can't be proven wrong, it doesn't mean that theory is correct. With enough explanation, you can explain away anything.

For example, I could suggest that there are actually only two people in the universe (you and me), and that I just use a gizmo to alter your perceptions and memories to THINK there are more than two. See? Easy.

Easy but pointless.

If it is theoretically impossible to prove something wrong that is a sure sign that what you are considering is completely irrelevant and pointless. Though a person might waste their time with such contrivances, there can never come anything of it.

It's easy to think of something that might disprove gravity. Nothing can disprove solipsism. One is a useful idea, the other is not.

Answer 2

You have to understand that in philosophy 'solipsism' is not a belief system, its a thought experiment. The whole point of thinking about this, is to reduce things down to essentials. Its about what you can know, not what exists.

Anyone who tells you solipsism is wrong, has missed the entire point.

Answer 3

Firstly, it is possible to doubt the chain of experience at both ends. Behaviourists choose one, solipsists the other. Both are equally dubious.

Secondly, imagine a world in which everything else is a figment of your imagination. Since you are not immediately conscious of everything, some of it is generated by your subconscious. This subconscious has a separate identity from your conscious, and there is also nothing to choose between you and other apparently imaginary beings because they are as sophisticated as you are. Furthermore, like you they are made of "mind stuff" and so are themselves conscious, as this is a distinctive feature of such a substance.

Thirdly, in certain situations such as Sartre's Look, an experience such as shame involves implicit admission of the existence of other minds, revealing that in practical terms, doubt as to their existence does not occur in everyday consciousness.

Incidentally, in the novel "Against A Dark Background" by Iain Banks, the central character is kidnapped by a gang of solipsists at one point, which is possibly the most brilliant idea i've ever read in a story.

Answer 4

Are you a Henry Rollins fan? Because his book was the first thing that popped into my mind.

Regardless, I think the concept is intriguing... the "no man is an island" idea taken to the next level. As far as "proving" or "disproving" it, I agree - kind of tough to wrap your head around.

Hmmm... going to star this question to see what others have to say! :)

Take care.

Answer 5

"Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "A Philosophy of Universality," Aivanhov, "Watch Your Dreams," Colton

Answer 6

It's a boring question. It doesn't really bear on how one lives life.