T
tonyrey
Guest
All that you see is** interpreted** by you but you created neither yourself nor all that you see!
- Status
T
tonyrey
Guest
What about the packet of cigarettes? Does that appear out of the blue?
B
Buck_Crosswhite
Guest
If I was a Solipsist I wouldnāt logon to a chat forum and talk to people who arenāt there.
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Partinobodycula
Guest
Then pray tell, who would you talk to? When illusion is all that one has, one does not so easily dismiss it.
P
Partinobodycula
Guest
I wonder sometimes why people cannot see, that they are not so different from me. You talk to a saviour whom you have never seen. You believe in a heaven which you have never known. It seems in some ways that we are both fools. We are both in the end, walking by faith. You have faith that there is a God. I have faith that there is a purpose. We both have faith in things hoped for.
I look at the world around me and I wonder if it is only an illusion. I wonder if there is a purpose. I wonder if there is a reason for all the pain, and the suffering, and the heartache, and despair. I wonder if there is a meaning to all of this madness.
For Christians this life is about doing the things, and living the life that shows them worthy of forgiveness. All men cry, and suffer, and endure, but precious few are saved. For an overwhelming multitude, all the torment is in vain, and all the struggles for naught. But for a solipsist there is no one here to suffer but I, and all the burdens of life are not so that men might be found worthy of being forgiven, but that I might be made capable to forgive.
There is a purpose to this struggle. There is a meaning to this life. It is not so that you can be forgiven. It is so that you can forgive.
K
katesmom
Guest
This has become quite a popular thread! 
**Partinobodycula: I just have a few question? ** I ask out of curiosity - not to debate you.
When you first considered the idea of solipsism did it initially alarm you or cause you any depression or distress?
As you know, I reacted to Solipsism with a great deal of fear and anxiety & still have difficult time with solipsism. Which Im still shocked no one else seems to be bothered by it?
When I first learned of solipsism and realized that some people like yourself are solipsists. It bothered me why people would actually want to believe this.
I wonder - Are you only āAssumingā only your mind exists? Do you still consider the possibility that other peopleās minds exist? I mean why else would you be on these forums? You must assume that the responses are from real people with their own mind? Right? Im just curious?
Im unable to assume that my parents, spouse, children & friends are just figments of my mind. - How depressing! Arenāt you happier having faith that you are experiencing life with the rest of us? Or perhaps your not unhappy?
When I live as a non-solipsist, I am a much much happier person. When I actually believe solipsism to be true I end up on medication & depressed. So for me the answer is clear which way I want to liveā¦An external reality makes sense to me & Ive lived my whole life assuming in an external world outside of meā¦ I guess that most of us assume we are experiencing an external reality? Right???
**Partinobodycula: I just have a few question? ** I ask out of curiosity - not to debate you.
When you first considered the idea of solipsism did it initially alarm you or cause you any depression or distress?
As you know, I reacted to Solipsism with a great deal of fear and anxiety & still have difficult time with solipsism. Which Im still shocked no one else seems to be bothered by it?
When I first learned of solipsism and realized that some people like yourself are solipsists. It bothered me why people would actually want to believe this.
I wonder - Are you only āAssumingā only your mind exists? Do you still consider the possibility that other peopleās minds exist? I mean why else would you be on these forums? You must assume that the responses are from real people with their own mind? Right? Im just curious?
Im unable to assume that my parents, spouse, children & friends are just figments of my mind. - How depressing! Arenāt you happier having faith that you are experiencing life with the rest of us? Or perhaps your not unhappy?
When I live as a non-solipsist, I am a much much happier person. When I actually believe solipsism to be true I end up on medication & depressed. So for me the answer is clear which way I want to liveā¦An external reality makes sense to me & Ive lived my whole life assuming in an external world outside of meā¦ I guess that most of us assume we are experiencing an external reality? Right???
T
tonyrey
Guest
āBy their fruits you shall know themā applies to beliefs as well as persons!
Christianity leads to joy and consolation
Materialism leads to despair and desolation
Solipsism leads to loneliness and isolationā¦
T
tonyrey
Guest
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Partinobodycula
Guest
You may of course be right. I have only myself to compare. But I am trying with all my heart, not to let that be so.
I have only the word of a few self-righteous men, who may be no more than fools. As for the judgment of God, I believe that it would much more lenient than them.
And thus the reason for the illusion, that I might have someone to forgive, and to love, and to share my life with. If you think that I cannot care, you are wrong. If I cannot forgive, it is only because I already have.
P
Partinobodycula
Guest
No, solipsism has never caused me depression or distress, but for me it was something that I came to over a long period of time. I didnāt learn of it in some philosophy book or classroom. I didnāt find it on the internet. It came slowly and quietly, by way of a lot of contemplation, and wondering about the world, and suffering, and God. The injustices of life, and the self-righteousness of religion caused me much more distress than solipsism ever has. But perhaps if I had been forced to face it all at once, I would have rejected it as indignantly as most intelligent people do. Perhaps it would have caused me more distress. But as it is, it seems to have come to me more by nature, than by reason. It suits my soul I suppose, as much as some peopleās religion suits theirs. It is for me like a well worn set of clothes, it feels right on me somehow.
Yes, I am assuming that only my mind exists. Everyone else may be just as real, and aware, and alive as I am. They may love, and laugh, and cry as surely and as deeply as I do, and more. They may be far more alive, and important, and fulfilled than I will ever be, and I hope and pray that they are. But underneath it all lies the realization that I can never know. As much as I want to, I can never be certain. It may be that those times when I sit alone and contemplate the injustice, the futility, and the emptiness of life, are the times when Iām experiencing my true lot in life, and everything else is but an illusion. My reality may be, that I am alone. But I can appreciate being alone for a time. I find solace there. I find comfort there. When the world gets a little too maddening, I can find peace there.
Oh, but that doesnāt mean that I cannot assume that everything and everyone is just as real as I am. I can live life as if everything is beautifully, wonderfully, vibrantly real. I can appreciate life more than I ever have before. Solipsism doesnāt mean that I will appreciate life less, it means that I will appreciate it infinitely more. Above all the suffering and futility, life is gloriously amazing. For someone who has felt what it means to be alone, life is a wonderful thing.
I consider the responses here to be genuine. That each and every person is real and important, and every question is worthy of an honest answer. The most insignificant person here is me. Each response is an opportunity, to express as best as I can in words, what I feel in my heart. For I never feel less alone, than when I open my heart. I have no need to hide. No need to be ashamed. I am what I am. It may sound strange for a solipsist to say, but in a very real way, it is I who am nothing, and they who are everything.
That I suppose is why I am here. That I might be a little less alone. And if there is even the slightest of chances that my words might uplift someone, or comfort someone, then it would be unforgiveable for me not to try. I can perhaps change nothing but myself, but changing that, changes everything.
Oh, then by all means embrace it all, for life is a miraculous thing. Give no more thought to the words of an ignorant fool. Except perchance for three small words, tucked away in some dim neglected corner of your heart. To be remembered in those darker times, when life gets a litle too lonely, and the world gets a little too cold. Three small simple words, I love you.
:hug3:
T
tonyrey
Guest
Iām praying that you succeedā¦
You are right!*
to forgive - except yourself!*
Forgiveness - like love - is not a once-and-for-all affair. It is a disposition that is essential for our spiritual well-being because if we harbour ill feelings we become poisoned by malice and resentment. I believe you are in no danger of that: your humility will be your salvation - if you accept the immense probability that you didnāt create yourself and owe your existence to the only Being who has existed for all eternity. In a sense we **are **all dreams, not in our own minds but in the Mind of God!
T
tonyrey
Guest
That is the solution to all our problems! When we love others we identify ourselves with them, forget ourselves and are** liberated** from ourselvesā¦
B
Buck_Crosswhite
Guest
How can you possibly know I havenāt seen Him? What if I have?I wonder sometimes why people cannot see, that they are not so different from me. **You talk to a saviour whom you have never seen. **You believe in a heaven which you have never known. It seems in some ways that we are both fools. We are both in the end, walking by faith. You have faith that there is a God. I have faith that there is a purpose. We both have faith in things hoped for.
I look at the world around me and I wonder if it is only an illusion. I wonder if there is a purpose. I wonder if there is a reason for all the pain, and the suffering, and the heartache, and despair. I wonder if there is a meaning to all of this madness.
For Christians this life is about doing the things, and living the life that shows them worthy of forgiveness. All men cry, and suffer, and endure, but precious few are saved. For an overwhelming multitude, all the torment is in vain, and all the struggles for naught. But for a solipsist there is no one here to suffer but I, and all the burdens of life are not so that men might be found worthy of being forgiven, but that I might be made capable to forgive.
There is a purpose to this struggle. There is a meaning to this life. It is not so that you can be forgiven. It is so that you can forgive.
B
Buck_Crosswhite
Guest
āYesterday upon the stair / I met a man who wasnāt there. / He wasnāt there again today / I wish that man would go away.ā Hugh Means
P
Partinobodycula
Guest
You are of course correct, I stated an absolute, which I have no way of proving. But if you would not be offended by my asking, have you seen Him?
B
Buck_Crosswhite
Guest
YesYou are of course correct, I stated an absolute, which I have no way of proving. But if you would not be offended by my asking, have you seen Him?
K
katesmom
Guest
Partinobodycula:
Hi again. Again just curious:
Can you tell me how a solipsist deals with the unanswered questions that you once assumed as truths? Its like the rug is pulled out from under you once you take solipsism seriously - at least for me it was like that!!
Some of my questions Ive struggled with:
Hi again. Again just curious:
Can you tell me how a solipsist deals with the unanswered questions that you once assumed as truths? Its like the rug is pulled out from under you once you take solipsism seriously - at least for me it was like that!!
Some of my questions Ive struggled with:
- Does a solipsist feel as though they have been deceived once they assume that nothing exists outside of their mind?
- How do you make that leap from non solipsism to solipsism without some sort of emotional or psychological impact? All the beliefs you once held so dear are gone. I would assume that would cause tremendous grief?
- Does a solipsist still have an interest in science, nature, books, the āUniverseā?
- Does life continue to surprise you with all its mystery, adventure, drama, pain, pleasure?
- How does one not fall into nihilism I wonder?
- Does a solipsist have to define their experiences as āonly in my mindā at every moment? By default we live as though life is happening TO us not created in our mind?
- How does one enjoy the beauty of nature if everything is just a figment of the imagination created by self??? It reduces the intimacy and wonderment of experiences to the self.
- Can one live a meaningful and joyful life if you believe you arent sharing it with anyone?
- I assume anyone that questions their experiences as āonly in my mindā vs āexternal of my mindā would suffer???
- How do you look into the eyes of a loved one and tell yourself they are only in your mind and actually accept it as truth? **I find that extremely painful! **
- Do you question the āFacts/truthsā we were taught since childhood?
B
Buck_Crosswhite
Guest
Who ever the Solipsist is, youāre doing a lousy job of running N. Korea. Stop it. Think something better.
- Status