So, What is solipsism? Solipsism is a philosophical concept that said only one’s own mind exists or everything is in your mind. Nothing of the external world and other minds can be verified. It is possible that everything you experience in your life is just in your mind. Every person, every feeling, emotion everything just exists in your mind.
And you are your mind which created this whole universe, You are the creator of this universe. Solipsism is a massive philosophical idea. Rene Descartes was the 16-century french philosopher who gave the idea of solipsism. Rene Descartes insisted on finding the truth by means of introspection.
Rene Descartes in his book ‘Meditations On First Philosophy’ writes that “Several years have now elapsed since I first became aware that I had accepted, even from my youth, many false opinions for true, and that consequently what I afterwards based on such principles was highly doubtful, and from that time I was convinced of the necessity of undertaking once in my life to rid myself of all the opinions I had adopted and of commencing a new the work of building from the foundation”.
Rene Descartes is famous for his quote “I think therefore I am”. According to Rene Descartes, you can never say that things are real. It is possible that things you are hearing and seeing are just created by your mind.
Types Of Solipsism
There are many kinds of solipsism. Some of the solipsism are described below:
Metaphysical Solipsim
Metaphysical solipsism said that only your mind exists, nothing exists outside of the mind. The only reality that exists is you the other realities are just the extension of yourself.
Epistemological Solipsism
Epistemological solipsism claims that things you can not directly perceive through your senses can not be known. I mean if you are experiencing something you can say it exists but things you never experience you can’t say that they exist.
Methodological Solipsism
Methodological solipsism says that the self is the starting point of philosophical construction. Just imagine you are swimming in a pool but in reality, it could be possible that you hook with a computer which is giving you an experience of swimming.
Solipsism And The Problem Of Other Minds
According to solipsism the only things we can be certain of is our own mind and consciousness. It is possible that I am the only mind that exists. People who experience solipsism say that they have an experience that everything exists in their mind, all the world, the table, chair, buildings and all other people are just the creation of their mind.
But the problem is, If everything exists in your mind then why can’t we control it. You may have experienced that everything just exists in your mind or is created by your mind then why can’t I control it. People who experience solipsism always ask this question.
Why do I have to do the job? Why do I have this life? Why not the better one. Why I can’t change things according to me. If I am the only one who exists then what about the other people. Why are they not working according to me? Why can’t I control them? This is the real problem with solipsism. If I am the only mind that exists then what about the other people’s minds. Why do I have to do so much struggle in my life?
If it all is my fantasy then why I am not controlling this. For people who experience solipsism nothing anymore matter to them. Money, passion, love everything seemed like attributes of a simulation game.
Rene Descartes And Psychology
Rene descartes was born in La Haye en Touraine, France, on 31 March 1596. His mother’s name was Jeanne Brochard who died soon after giving birth to Rene. Rene spent most of his life with his grandmother and great uncle. Rene completed his education in 1614, then he studied for two years at the University Of Poitiers.
Rene Descartes was the 17th-century french philosopher who is famous for his quote “I think therefore I am”. He was a rationalist person where others philosophers are talking about god. Rene Descartes talks about the power of human logic. Descartes believed that much of what was wrong with the world was caused by the misuse of the human mind.
He devoted all life to making the human mind better or making human thinking better. He said everyone should solve the large problem by dividing them into small sections. This is what he called his ‘method of doubts’.
Descartes’s subjective approach to philosophy reached its climax when he arrived at the famous phrase ‘I Think Therefore I am. Descartes observes that our human senses are deeply unreliable. He said, be trusted to know whether he was actually sitting in a room in his dressing-gown or just dreaming about it. But there was a thing he can be sure that he was actually thinking.
Descartes is also known as the founder of modern philosophy and algebraic geometry. Descartes ‘Meditation on first philosophy’ is still a standard textbook in many universities. His father was a member of the ‘Parlement Of Brittany’.
Religious Viewpoint On Solipsism
All the religions in the world clearly denied the idea of solipsism. Anyone who is the emphasis on the self is rejecting the idea of God where all the religions in the world are based on God. Therefore solipsism is contrary to the religious perspective. But religions are always emphasized people to find their true selves. While religion emphasizes that the true self and the universe is one. Solipsism is not compatible with the traditional view of God but it is very similar to pantheism.
FAQ
What is a solipsistic person?
A solipsistic person believes that only his mind exists. Everything is inside his mind. All the world or universe.
What is wrong with solipsism?
Solipsism is a philosophical concept that said only one’s own mind exists. The wrong thing is that what about the other mind. What about the other people who exist there. And if one’s own mind exists why he can not control things, why he has to go for a job, why don’t just he change the thing according to him.
Conclusion
In this article, we have talked about what is solipsism?, Rene Descartes, Solipsism, And The Problem Of Other Minds And Psychology, and the types of Solipsism. Solipsism is a philosophical concept that only individual minds exist or a person can be sure of the existence of his own mind. Rene Descartes is a french philosopher who has written about solipsism in his books. No one can be sure that reality really exists. It could be possible that it is all in our minds.
Other Related Articles:
100 Best Good Morning Messages
Discovering Your True Self
Educational Philosophy Of Mahatma Gandhi
Ant Philosophy
The Power Of Letting Go
What is Spirituality
Nihilism
Consciousness Are We Really Aware