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Solipsism: The Ultimate Empirical Theory of Human Existence
"The specter haunting modern philosophy is not the ghost in the it is solipsism."
Solipsism is the ultimate empirical theory of human existence. It is the metaphysical position that there is only one self-conscious person in the universe, i.e., the present selfconscious being reading these paragraphs. A weaker version is the position that one can know for certain that there is only one conscious person in the universe, oneself.
The present study is the only book-length examination of solipsism. It treats the origin of solipsism in the works of St. Augustine and René Descartes as well as all serious attempts to refute the thesis of solipsism. Such attempts were made primarily by British empiricists, specifically by George Santayana. Santayana concludes that solipsism cannot be refuted. Watson also concludes that solipsism cannot be refuted. He examines attempts by Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, British Idealists, Logical Positivists, Sense Datum Philosophers, and in particular Nelson Goodman and Gilbert Ryle (they are just pathetic). The spector haunting Modern Philosophy is not the Ghost in the Machine; it is solipsism.
Watson argues that the foundations of Western Philosophy are solipsistic, and that all the major figures recognize this and know that solipsism cannot be refuted, but nevertheless continue by ignoring it, by pretending that it cannot be taken seriously, by offering inadequate solutions, and by treating solipsism as a joke.
Watson's book is the only study of solipsism by a professional philosopher, other than Santayana, in which solipsism is taken seriously as a threat to Modern Philosophy.
Solipsism is the ultimate empirical theory of human existence. It is the metaphysical position that there is only one self-conscious person in the universe, i.e., the present selfconscious being reading these paragraphs. A weaker version is the position that one can know for certain that there is only one conscious person in the universe, oneself.
The present study is the only book-length examination of solipsism. It treats the origin of solipsism in the works of St. Augustine and René Descartes as well as all serious attempts to refute the thesis of solipsism. Such attempts were made primarily by British empiricists, specifically by George Santayana. Santayana concludes that solipsism cannot be refuted. Watson also concludes that solipsism cannot be refuted. He examines attempts by Descartes, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, British Idealists, Logical Positivists, Sense Datum Philosophers, and in particular Nelson Goodman and Gilbert Ryle (they are just pathetic). The spector haunting Modern Philosophy is not the Ghost in the Machine; it is solipsism.
Watson argues that the foundations of Western Philosophy are solipsistic, and that all the major figures recognize this and know that solipsism cannot be refuted, but nevertheless continue by ignoring it, by pretending that it cannot be taken seriously, by offering inadequate solutions, and by treating solipsism as a joke.
Watson's book is the only study of solipsism by a professional philosopher, other than Santayana, in which solipsism is taken seriously as a threat to Modern Philosophy.
- GenresPhilosophy
168 pages, Hardcover
First published April 30, 2014
About the author
Richard A. Watson
70 books5 followersRichard Watson is a recognized and pre-eminent Cartesian scholar and until his retirement was a professor of philosophy at Washington University in St. Louis. He now lives in Missoula, Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 29, 2017
Does this book really exist?
February 27, 2024
This book presents a brilliant thesis on solipsism.
A Note of Warning: If you are not a solipsist or don't even know what solipsism is, do yourself a big favor, save your time, and don't read this book. Chances are you won't enjoy it; it might even seem like extra-jambo mumbo-jambo.
But if you're a full-fledged solipsist or if you've had glances of solipsistic ideas and are wondering how to deal with them, then read this book. By all means, read it.
I'm saying this because, first of all, there aren't many book-length and thorough explorations of solipsism. Secondly, Watson's writing is not the smoothest to read. You may find a little bit, but not too much, of repeated ideas or the same idea presented in different ways.
But the topic is fascinating. If you can endure through Watson's writing and seemingly repeated ideas, you'll find this book very enjoyable. I'm glad I read it, and I hope you will too.
Isn't it ironic that someone wrote a book on solipsism, and someone even wrote a review about it on Goodreads? Doesn't the writing of the book or the review itself refute solipsism? It doesn't. And you'll find out why.
A Note of Warning: If you are not a solipsist or don't even know what solipsism is, do yourself a big favor, save your time, and don't read this book. Chances are you won't enjoy it; it might even seem like extra-jambo mumbo-jambo.
But if you're a full-fledged solipsist or if you've had glances of solipsistic ideas and are wondering how to deal with them, then read this book. By all means, read it.
I'm saying this because, first of all, there aren't many book-length and thorough explorations of solipsism. Secondly, Watson's writing is not the smoothest to read. You may find a little bit, but not too much, of repeated ideas or the same idea presented in different ways.
But the topic is fascinating. If you can endure through Watson's writing and seemingly repeated ideas, you'll find this book very enjoyable. I'm glad I read it, and I hope you will too.
Isn't it ironic that someone wrote a book on solipsism, and someone even wrote a review about it on Goodreads? Doesn't the writing of the book or the review itself refute solipsism? It doesn't. And you'll find out why.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews