Thread: Common Sense?

This might be a bit wanderous, but bear with me.

A while back I started to think that I might be the only person in existance (solipsism). But after all, my own existance is the only thing I can know for certain . . .

But then I came to the conclusion that it's just common sense to believe that these people around me are real. It fits.

We can't know for sure that there is one - but is it common sense to think that something (i.e. a god) started all this, in the same way that it's common sense to think that other people exist ?

I used to believe in Solipsism. The "if a tree falls and you didn't hear, see, smell, feel or taste it fall then did it fall at all" theory really intrigued me. It's kinda like The Matrix really! George Orwell explored its use to control the masses in 1984.

Originally Posted by Trystan

This might be a bit wanderous, but bear with me.

A while back I started to think that I might be the only person in existance (solipsism). But after all, my own existance is the only thing I can know for certain . . .

But then I came to the conclusion that it's just common sense to believe that these people around me are real. It fits.

We can't know for sure that there is one - but is it common sense to think that something (i.e. a god) started all this, in the same way that it's common sense to think that other people exist ?

The concept that you may be alone and everything else is an illusion you created to keep yourself from being lonely may not be as crazy as you think.
Then again I am a figment of your imagination s never mind.

Originally Posted by Trystan

This might be a bit wanderous, but bear with me.

A while back I started to think that I might be the only person in existance (solipsism). But after all, my own existance is the only thing I can know for certain . . .

But then I came to the conclusion that it's just common sense to believe that these people around me are real. It fits.

We can't know for sure that there is one - but is it common sense to think that something (i.e. a god) started all this, in the same way that it's common sense to think that other people exist ?

I prefer not to think that some people (most notably in politics) could be the product of my imagination. Then again, if the universe is as we perceive it, there is no guarantee that we all perceive everything the same way. We have just agreed upon conventions to describe it- so there may be some validity to solipsism.

Well firstly, common sense is not to common to start with, and as long as we all live different lives, our perception of common sense is different.

However in my mind, I am pretty sure I couldn't have imagined or created certain individuals we have alive on this planet. Even if I were on every drug known to man I couldn't possibly relate or perceive their motives.

So I'm pretty sure my world is real, or most parts of it anyway.

Ah shit, does that mean I chose the wrong pill! :hissy:

I have come to the conclusion that I am alone in my universe. Sure there are other beings present, but none which reside on my own wavelength. I used to think that some of them did. I see them and understand them, but they do not understand me and only view me as less worthy than them!!

As Stephen hawking would put it, From a positivist perspective, we cannot know what is real. We can only know if a given theory presents an accuirate model of the universe we observe