Source
r/solipsism•
dyadiccounterpoint

Does the idea of solipsism make you feel good... or bad?

I notice a difference in how solipsism affects people. A lot of people are bothered by it... they feel dark and alone. Those people, in my view, are likely evolving towards a view of collective consciousness, beyond self, to regain connectivity and warm relationships with others.

Personally, adopting this metaphysical belief produces positive emotionality. I don't make deep empathic connections, and I suspect this is why I like it so much. It erases the meaning of suffering outside myself; it reduces anger/envy; it fixes the issues nihilism can bring to the mind; it pleases my desired view of self as all important.

To me, thinking others are experiencing the same objective reality as me causes a lot of emotional dysfunction. Thinking of collective consciousness, beyond self, is better but not as good a fix.

For the record, my take on solipsism is really closer to epistemological idealism filtered through a multiverse idea... and also a touch of Hindu philosophy on the limited, dramatic ego-self being an extension of the cosmic author.

How do you feel about it?

Posted Feb 28, 2021, 8:50 PM UTC

1710
MrMrUndefined•

I’d say when people are feeling bad about solipsism, they’re essentially feeling the weight of being “alone,” along with all its profound implications.

I’d argue that feelings are temporary states - and there is a state inside you where you are able to feel “not alone.” That state exists, and is just as real as the feeling of being “alone.”

That state of not being alone is accessible just as the feeling of being alone is.

If you’re responsible for all this anyway, why not try working on accessing the feeling of not being alone within you? It is achievable.

Also, it’s worth mentioning; what is more alone?

  • the idea that you are an individual body that is a product of this world, split off from this world, separate from it, who is destined to shrivel up and die at some point like an apple fallen from the tree, never truly connected to anything else other than the idea of yourself

or

  • there is one reality going on here, and that reality is you, and you are capable of all of this - wonder, joy, dread, drama, happy, sad, etc., that you are intrinsically connected to all things as they are extensions of you, unity is your reality rather than separateness
4
Grandpa_Max•

Only good, I see myself becoming a god again after death. This view helps me keep from any kind of anxiety.

3
Geo-Q•

I feel like a God.

For me, there's no point in things like being embarrassed. If I remind myself about solipsism, I get brought back down to earth. I feel like I can put everything into perspective.

3
Forsaken-Big1830•

I'm the only real person, y'all bow down to me..

3
Anyau•

Sometimes good.

sometimes bad

2
dyadiccounterpointOP•

What aspects produce the good and bad feelings, respectively? If you don't mind.

I think it's the most important question to ask. The quality of experience is, at least for the individual, the highest objective. The truth of reality is secondary to living the best life possible.

I think one should adopt whichever view makes them most content without losing functionality.

3
Anyau•

The good:

the literally billions of different possible realities that could mean that the world I am in really is just me , this helps greatly with self confidence (large ego tbh). i genuinely believe i could do anything if i tried, because my only competition is myself

The bad:

the same concept that of the billions of potential realities that this is the only real one, that i have the "good" mindset as some kind of coping mechanism for something, also random bursts of the potential realisation that everyone around is real is scary, kills the ego.

I've never done drugs but life always just feels like a constant high with those occasional bad trips, I'd just like to be sober.

i could go into more depth but it would just be random blabbering

1
dyadiccounterpointOP•

I appreciate it.

I find it interesting that, for you, the bad comes from the potential collapse of solipsism instead the belief in it.

1
arialblack9•

FUCKING AWESOME. Man you’re lucid dreaming!!!!!!

2
dyadiccounterpointOP•

On a tangent, you made me think about Egyptian mythology.

They placed a high focus on 'oneiromancy,' which is basically something like 'dream science.' I have a suspicion they were practicing lucid dreaming as an esoteric art. Just a hypothesis of course.

3