Solipsism & other skeptical hypothesis

[Ollieyk]

Sorry if this is a bit deep, but I've always been interested in Solipsism (The thought that nothing outside of your own mind exists). The thought of god, the devil, death, birth, everything is a product of your own imagination. The thought that life as we know it is an endless dream.

Maybe I'm just far too stoned right now for my own good, but does anyone else ever think about stuff like this?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, listen to Nine Inch Nails - Right Where It Belongs, and have a good think ;o

[pirahna1]

I used to think this way a long time ago. But then I realized it's pretty silly and moved on. My thoughts were that everyone was a robot put here for my amusement ala The Matrix / A.I.

But on theories, does anyone else feel that Digital Philosophy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_philosophy) is far too perfect to not be the truth behind the Universe?

[Blarg]

Hello, this is your mind talking. You are correct, I, Blarg, am not real. Goodbye.

[Khamsin]

The good news is, if this is the case, then you can't die. At least, not through actions in your dream. So next time you're up high on a rickety old bridge, fear not... nothing will happen to you if you fall.

Also, if it is a dream, you should be able to pull off some matrix-style stunts.

[elison]

My penis would be neverending if this was true.

[Khamsin]

You'd think you could test it by telling 20 other people to come up with some complex math problems and solutions, then then all show you at once. You see them all, see all the problems and solutions, and then verify each one. If they all check out, and your mind is the only thing that exists, then your mind must have come up with them and solved them all fairly quickly... so either people exist outside your mind, or your mind is really really smart.

Whether or not math is meaningful beyond human invention (or your own mind) is irrelevant, since whatever system it is, it has specific rules it follows, and it takes time to ensure the solution follows those rules you set for yourself. It shouldn't be possible to instantly know the answer and have it check out.

[Blarg]

I don't think you can really completely disprove the solipsist viewpoint, but I think it's too out there to be possible so it's best to just view it as an interesting thing to think about and that's it.

[Weeks]

Invalidates perception > invalidates deductive reasoning > not disprovable and therefore unworthy of consideration.

[Michaera]

Have thought about it a lot, and I think it's a cool concept. Didn't know it ever actually had a name though. It's kind of unnerving to wonder if the person sitting next to you, the room you're sitting in, the conversation you're having with us on the forums and the people on it are just manifestations of your mind. But since, as Weeks said, it's not provable/disprovable, it holds about as much weight as most(all?) religions and you could probably get away with considering it as such.

Pretty cool idea to just wonder about though if that's really your thing. Once you start thinking it just kind of explodes til you get bored and think about something else.

[KuaiEQ]

You're all fucking hippies.

[Kuya]

Where's the gas leak?

[Bingbong]

You're all fucking hippies.

Quoted for win.

[Reality]

Sorry if this is a bit deep, but I've always been interested in Solipsism (The thought that nothing outside of your own mind exists). The thought of god, the devil, death, birth, everything is a product of your own imagination. The thought that life as we know it is an endless dream.

Maybe I'm just far too stoned right now for my own good, but does anyone else ever think about stuff like this?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, listen to Nine Inch Nails - Right Where It Belongs, and have a good think ;o

i think about this stuff when i'm not stoned, so yeah

[guartz]

Maybe I'm just far too stoned right now for my own good, but does anyone else ever think about stuff like this?

If it were true, what would be the point of asking? Obviously we'd say no, no that's ridiculous. You have to be careful man, can't trust anyone. It's all a trick.

[Nystul]

While I think they are (or perhaps were) a decent band and all, if you find yourself saying that the best explanation for your philosophical ideology comes from a NIN song, then you're doing it wrong.

[Gwynplaine]

You guys laugh (rightfully so) but it's actually a real philosophical concept. The problem is essentially how to prove existence to be real. The answer I would offer is consciousness by definition has to be conscious of something outside of itself. If someone wants to believe solipsism is true, they can go right on ahead. That person would just have to deal with the consequences themselves. Who knows, you might even wind up on t.v. on Fox News for it!
http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=14014

[guartz]

The problem is essentially how to prove existence to be real. The answer I would offer is consciousness by definition has to be conscious of something outside of itself. \

I think it was the only way descartes could reasonably prove existence of God. That is, believe nothing you hear, see or touch.

[HAcoreRD]

How can we be sure that you're nothing but an god yourself. everything is created to be born and die, by your mind alone.

this can also bring the thought. If everyone doesn't exist, and therefore can die, can you, the only "sure" existance not die?

[Charla]

Don't worry guys, Douglass Adams already took this discussion as far as it's going to go.

[guartz]

How can we be sure that you're nothing but an god yourself. everything is created to be born and die, by your mind alone.

I am the Cartesian demon! Bwahahah!


you weren't seriously asking the question, right? I can't tell.