Solipsism Syndrome

Guybrush · 03-26-2010, 06:40 PM

Ah

Now I get you. Although I haven't thought long and hard about this, I think self-awareness allows us to empathize with others' feelings. We can only know or imagine other people's sadness when we know our own. Recognizing yourself as a distinct person helps you recognize everyone else also is. I think a "moral standard" would be hard to find in organisms without self-awareness, but to give a better answer, I think it would promote morals.

duga · 03-26-2010, 07:53 PM

That's what I thought, also.

I'll try to keep the thread on track. I mentioned earlier my belief that we are all connected to the same life experience, and by extension are actually "one". So, if the world were all a big trick, I don't think it is one big trick for one person. We all exist and are being tricked, if we are. Think the Matrix. I think it is incredibly arrogant to think "I am the only one that exists and this is all a dreamworld meant to deceive ME". If self awareness increased empathy, it also greatly increased arrogance and selfishness.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 03-26-2010, 08:56 PM

Ever since I read the Wiki article for solipsism I cannot stop thinking about it. I had a discussion with my flatmate about it and she had such good answers to my arguments of how it couldn't work. My brain hurts.

03-26-2010, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Ah Now I get you. Although I haven't thought long and hard about this, I think self-awareness allows us to empathize with others' feelings. We can only know or imagine other people's sadness when we know our own. Recognizing yourself as a distinct person helps you recognize everyone else also is. I think a "moral standard" would be hard to find in organisms without self-awareness, but to give a better answer, I think it would promote morals. __________________ Something Completely Different

03-26-2010, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	That's what I thought, also. I'll try to keep the thread on track. I mentioned earlier my belief that we are all connected to the same life experience, and by extension are actually "one". So, if the world were all a big trick, I don't think it is one big trick for one person. We all exist and are being tricked, if we are. Think the Matrix. I think it is incredibly arrogant to think "I am the only one that exists and this is all a dreamworld meant to deceive ME". If self awareness increased empathy, it also greatly increased arrogance and selfishness. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

03-26-2010, 08:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,775	Ever since I read the Wiki article for solipsism I cannot stop thinking about it. I had a discussion with my flatmate about it and she had such good answers to my arguments of how it couldn't work. My brain hurts. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots