Philosophy Stack Exchange
Philosophy Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [solipsism]

The position that only one's own existence can be demonstrated to exist (and that everything and everyone else cannot.)

Solipsism is the belief that only the self can be proven to exist.

This can be taken into various schools of thought including metaphysics and epistemology.

Historically this can be linked to philosophers such as Bishop Berkeley and Decartes.

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Are there any philosophical arguments to disprove or weaken solipsism?

My philosophy professor once told our class: The only people who believe in solipsism are infants and madmen. I was inclined to agree at the time. Yet years later, I have still not encountered any good arguments to disprove this idea. Thus, I am…
user151
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Is Skepticism the most rational standpoint?

Is Philosophical Skepticism - the one that advocates true knowledge is impossible, the most rational standpoint? I am asking this based on the observation that there are very few things whose existence is certain to be true. We are not certain…
AIB
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How does Berkeley justify existence of other minds?

I don't understand how Berkeley justifies existence of other minds in his system. Is it something that he takes for granted? Because, his position seems very close to that of a solipsist except for acknowledgement of other minds. You'll perceive…
Non-Being
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Computational counter-argument for solipsism

First let me elaborate the argument. Take a calculator (wolframalpha, google or other software tools may serve as well). Perform some very complex operation. Write down the operation and the result separately. Go do something fun for about 10…
Trylks
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Are there philosophers who examined the reasons for believing in the existence of other people?

While I am familiar with Descartes and the oft-quoted idea, I think therefore I am, I am not familiar with any philosophy that actively sought to rationalize that anybody else exists. Are there philosophers who analyzed this question? Or is it taken…
davidlowryduda
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Is it reasonable to believe that others have sentient minds?

Obviously I'm not looking for a valid deductive proof using formal logic, but at least a relatively convincing argument. How do I know that humans who I encounter other than myself have sentient minds, and aren't just unfeeling zombies? It seems…
That Guy
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Why does all of existence take place through my subjective point of view?

Asking such a question almost seems a bit insane. While I agree that there certainly seems to exist an objective external reality of which I seem to be a part of, I can never experience existence in a truly objective way (by not being a part of it…
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What did Thomas Nagel intend to distinguish, in distinguishing 'impression' vs 'perception of reality'?

Source: pp 15-16, What Does It All Mean? A Very Short Introduction to Philosophy (1987) by Prof. Thomas Nagel  According to this view, the idea of a dream from which you can never wake up is not the idea of a dream at all: it is the idea of…
user8572
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What is the inverse of solipsism?

Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist. Does there exist a term to define the concept that one only exists due to one's perception and interpretation by others' minds? In other words, one only finds existential…
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Should a solipsist get life insurance?

What are the reasons for a convinced metaphysical solipsist to get life insurance?
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Is it possible to refute subjective reality?

Subjective reality as explained here: Subjective Reality (SR), as I describe it, is the perspective that your true identity is the dreamer having the dream, so you are the conscious container in which the entire dream world takes place.  Your…
leo
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Does idealism allow for thought without any sensory input?

As I understand, idealism is the view that the mind is fundamental and the body as well as the world we perceive are just derivatives of the mind. Is this right? If so, if we had a hypothetical being, which could accept no sensory input (deaf,…
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Why are the existence of obstacles to our will considered a counterargument to solipsism?

In another (unrelated) question, the topic of solipsism came up in the comments, as well as the counterargument that there exist obstacles to our will, things out of our control, and so reality must not be generated by our thoughts. I'm by no means…
Justin Hilyard
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Does the existence of non-understandable concepts refute solipsism?

First, I am aware that most of the essays regarding solipsism and the existence of philosophical zombies conclude that there is no way to confirm or refute them. From my perspective, there is a vast knowledge in several fields (such as quantum…
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Does anyone have a good answer to or deconstruction of the 'problem of other minds'?

I'm absolutely obsessed with the problem. I've seen many people dismiss it, and I've seen many arguments against it, none of which seem to cut the logical mustard. The problem for me boils down to "world-having". If something shows up in my world, I…
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