Questions on solipsism

[Caoimhe]

Can solipsism be communal in the sense that the self "allows" other entities in her imagined world to think freely and on their own? In this sense could it be said that a solipsist has an interdependent nature with her own imagination and thus could become lost, even losing the sense of her own existence if imagination were somehow stripped from her?

Somehow I think there could be a flaw in my reasoning, but at the same time I reckon it could generate some interesting feedbacks, discussions.

 

[Legion.As.One]

One who believes that all other minds and things around it are false, (and therefore maybe already "allowed" to think for themselves), cannot believe that the other imagined minds can actually make descisions. In a way, they control everything that goes on in their "imagination" but they also have no control, like in a dream.
And in my opinion, thats no way to live one's life.

 

[Avatar]

There is another variant of Solopsism. PanDeism. The other minds are real but are also 'me'.

 

[Legion.As.One]

That sounds a little more believeable, i'll admit.

 

[The Nihilist]

No. Solipsism is a kind of skepticism, with the idea that you can know nothing beyond the existence of your mind. No one actually believes this, it's just one of the issues that epistemology has to address. This needs to be the end of the thread.

 

[Avatar]

This needs to be the end of the thread.

Says you?

 

[Legion.As.One]

Agreed, this thread's not over, 'til the thread maker says

 

[elliotps932]

Agreed, this thread's not over, 'til the thread maker says

pretty much

 

[The Nihilist]

Nevermind.

 

[Avatar]

Because the original question relies on a misunderstanding of solipsism, and because the following answers were all completely off base. So yes, says me.

Says you not. My post was in no way off base. Do you know what Pandeism is? It's the ultimate expression of solopsism.

However, if you wish to not participate in this thread, by all means don't let the door...

 

[The Nihilist]

Yeah, I thought about it, and while I disagree with your analysis, I decided you didn't deserve any ridicule, so I changed the post. You didn't waste any time though, dang.

 

[Avatar]

Yeah, I thought about it, and while I disagree with your analysis, I decided you didn't deserve any ridicule, so I changed the post. You didn't waste any time though, dang.

Whoah. Now that's not the usual post I'm used to at CF. I like you.

 

[The Nihilist]

Yeah, it's pretty unusual for me to admit I'm wrong, probably because it doesn't usually happen.

 

[Avatar]

Yeah, it's pretty unusual for me to admit I'm wrong, probably because it doesn't usually happen.

I can believe that.

^^that's not sarcasm.

 

[Caoimhe]

*grins*

I see that many of you in my absence were engaged in the discussion of solipsism and any variation thereof. Good, good. Any criticism or feedback with a dose of intellectual intent can be good for the soul as well as for the mind.

Now, Pandeism is something I am NOT familiar with but thank you for introducing it to me, Avatar. So let me get this straight... Pandeism is the notion that all other minds are real and perceivably distinct from the self, "the originator", but at the same time they need the creator's permission to exist?

In the context of Pandeism then what happens if "the self" decides to forego the role of the creator for once by granting complete, unbounded freedom to the "other minds"? If the creator grants this kind of freedom, finds herself enjoying her interaction with these "other minds" and comes to rely on them as entities separate from herself, is she not jeopardizing herself? Is she not in danger of destroying the very idea of solipsism possibly through her lack of control? What if madness, for instance, controls everything which includes her way of thinking and the way she interacts with her other minds?

And one more thing... does solipsism say that the original mind has to have ownership or can it be just an abstract, floating thought in the universe?

 

[Avatar]

OOh, excellent questions! I'm on my way out the door to work right now, but I'll definitely be back.