Solipsism facts for kids

Solipsism (pronounced "soll-ipps-iz-um") is a big idea in philosophy. It's about the belief that only your own mind is truly real. Imagine if everything you see, hear, and touch – even other people – was just something your brain made up!

Some people who think about solipsism believe that nothing exists outside of their own consciousness. This means they think everything they experience, including their friends, family, and the world around them, is all a part of their own imagination.

Another way to look at solipsism is as a question about what we can be absolutely sure of. From this view, you can only be completely certain that your own mind exists. The idea that other people have their own minds, feelings, and thoughts is seen as possible, but not something you can know for sure. It's a bit like wondering if everyone else is just a very clever robot!

What is Solipsism?

Solipsism comes from two Latin words: solus, meaning "alone," and ipse, meaning "self." So, it literally means "self alone." It's a very old idea that philosophers have thought about for centuries.

Two Main Types of Solipsism

There are two main ways to think about solipsism:

• Metaphysical Solipsism: This is the stronger belief. Someone who believes in this thinks that only their own mind exists. They believe that the entire universe, including all other people and objects, is just a creation of their own thoughts. It's like being the only actor in a play where you also wrote the script, designed the sets, and imagined the audience!
• Epistemological Solipsism: This is a bit softer. It's not saying that other things definitely don't exist, but rather that you can only be absolutely sure about your own mind. You might think that other minds probably exist, but you can't prove it with 100% certainty. It's more about what you can truly know for sure.

Why Do People Think About Solipsism?

Philosophers often explore solipsism when they are trying to understand how we know things. They ask questions like:

• How can I be sure that what I see is real?
• How do I know that other people have thoughts and feelings just like me?
• Is there an outside world, or is it all just in my head?

One famous philosopher who explored similar ideas was René Descartes. He famously said, "I think, therefore I am." This means that the very act of thinking proves that you exist. But he also wondered how we could be sure about anything else.

Is Solipsism True?

Most people, including most philosophers, do not believe that solipsism is true. It's a very difficult idea to live by. If only your mind exists, then:

• Why do other people seem to have their own ideas and make their own choices?
• Why does the world continue to exist even when you're not looking at it?
• How can we learn from others or work together if they aren't real?

While it's an interesting thought experiment, most people find it much more practical and logical to believe that there is a real world outside of their minds and that other people are real, too!

Images for kids

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  Portrait of George Berkeley by John Smybert, 1727

See also

In Spanish: Solipsismo para niños