Solipsism and solitude are two ideas that are closely related. The ideas are a part of an extensive topic brought up by early western philosophers, and is still widely studied by today’s philosophers. Solipsism is a complex philosophy that explores the individuality of the mind. It is the belief that the mind exists while nothing else is certain.
In this case, the mind of a person must exist since it is able to perceive. However, whatever the mind perceives could be pure deception or a corrupted representation of the reality. This is the basic concept of solipsism. Philosophers have complicated the concept of solipsism such that it has gained meaning that makes it seem to represent the most radical ideas about existence. The philosophy of solipsism depicts a universe, which exist as a creation of the mind.
This means that the surrounding environment may not be distortion of the real existence, but may be the mind itself. Moreover, the concept, which embraces metaphysical thinking, dictates that the environment around the perceiver represents the mind. Thus, an individual’s universe is made up of his or her mind alone. Today’s criticism of solipsism is that the concept advocates for ignorance of the importance of other people’s opinions. It is regarded as a kind of escapism.
On the other hand, solitude is a state of separation from other living beings. In this case, living beings are those, which can be perceived by the human eye. Solitude can be viewed as the moment which one’s mind is not distracted by the surrounding environment. This concept is separate and distinct from the idea of loneliness. Whereas solitude could be utilized for constructive thinking, loneliness can only serve to develop a depressing feeling.
However, there is a close relationship between the two concepts. While solipsism focuses on the power of the mind, solitude defines the state of the surrounding, which the mind is allowed to perceive and discern. It is during moments of solitude, that an individual can form constructive thoughts. Rene Descartes first explored the two concepts deeply, and later several other thinkers, including David Thoreau and Kurt Hoelting analyzed the concepts keenly.
In the book, “Walden”, David Thoreau focuses keenly on the subject of solitude. He says that he is more comfortable when he is alone than when he has company. He presents a paradox when he says that he has never found another companion as good as being alone. This means that his best companion is solitude. He defines the degree of solitude as the distance between an individual and his human companions.
He then continues to give an example of a student in a university. A student who is hard working in his or her studies often goes into isolation. This is because the isolation is a good environment for learning. Thoreau relates the concept of solitude to solipsism. Although he does not put an emphasis on metaphysics, he asserts that solitude results to a clearer thinking (Thoreau 127).
This kind of thinking is sometimes not good for the psychological wellbeing of an individual. Constant thoughts are likely to result in uncomfortable feeling. He describes the experience as the tormenting of an individual by thoughts. In turn, the thoughts that engulf the mind and separate it from the physical world in times of solitude fit the description of solipsism.
Thoreau describes an incident where a person is in distress in the woods. The man is hungry and cannot move about due to his physical weakness. While the person lies down, many thoughts occupy his mind such that he is not alone. This incident seeks to separate the physical existence from the mind. Consequently, such situation where the mind is separated from the body is a case of solipsism. Thoreau attests to a personal occasional situation when he is alone in the morning (Thoreau 120).
At this time, no one is talking to him and no one calls. He finds that he is not alone despite the fact that no one is talking. Solitude is a perfect companion at this time. Thoreau seeks to assert that the mind is most constructive during time of solitude. At this time, the mind is not forced to think. It wanders freely and forms constructive and positive thoughts.
According to Thoreau, it is during the time of solitude that one is able to observe the aspects of nature. During this time, a person observes the usual daily surroundings such as the sun, the wind and the vegetation. He compares these to the psychology of man, which keeps on changing depending on the current experiences.
He acknowledges their eternal happiness. These natural occurrences such as the daylight never lose their glamour. They seem to be satisfied with their condition at all times. Such observations are a result of solipsism (Thoreau 105). There is positivity of the thoughts, and the constructiveness in the thought is an aspect of solipsism. These thoughts are conjured up by the mind, and are not elicited by the experiences of the individual.
In the book, “Meditations on the First Philosophy”, René Descartes says that all along in his youth he has lived in deception of what he sees. He says that he must dismantle his present perceptions and build new philosophy of existence. This means that Descartes does not believe in what he sees in his environment. In his exploration of the concept of solipsism, Descartes says that senses deceive a person, but may not always present falsehood.
According to him, there is some truth in the perceptions of the mind. He analyses the usual perception of the human and concludes that according to the usual perception, there is no ground for denying the existence of everything else apart from the brain (Descartes & Cress 58). Descartes continues to consider an extreme situation where one does not believe in the human perception. He examines a situation where one’s body does not actually exist.
He asserts that there is no prove that the human perception is real. To him the truth is not certain, and every perceived physical aspect of existence could be an illusion. He also questions the existence of God, as we know Him. He says that it is possible that God did not make the universe, as we perceive it.
On the other hand, René does not totally deny the existence of God, but reasons that God may have impressed the perception of the universe and existence on his human mind. Descartes continues to explore the unique nature of geometry. He observes that geometry is one of the aspects of existence that could be true to one’s perception. However, he cautions that this cannot be an assertion (Descartes & Cress 45).
To create the concept of solipsism, Descartes notes that solitude is necessary. He must withdraw from all distractions in his environment so that he clears his mind of all the falsehood that he has perceived. Although solitude may help him discern false opinions, he says that there is no way of proving the falsehood of all opinions that he has always held (Descartes & Cress 39). To Descartes, the aspects of nature he cannot properly understand are just perceptions that have not been fully implemented by God.
Kurt Hoelting attaches significant value to the act of walking alone in the book, “circumference of home”. Hoelting shares the view by Thoreau about the ability an individual to perceive nature in a more discreet way when in a stroll. He describes the thought in an individual’s mind as a kind of meditation. It is during this time, when one can observe the importance of other Parts of nature other than oneself. He specifically refers to the surroundings as ecology.
Hoelting continues to say that it is during this time that the mind can acknowledge the importance of the ecology. The ecology he is referring to is the surroundings of the individual. Walking alone signifies solitude, which welcomes solipsism (Hoelting 12). Solipsism is also considered a state of deep thought. These thoughts are constructive, and usually enjoyable to the individual experiencing them. The author describes a situation where the character walks out into the rain in a secluded surrounding.
He then notices the surroundings, which he may not have noticed under normal circumstances. The author then describes the state of solitude in the island. He says that the water surrounding the island has clearly isolated him from the outside world since the island is his home. His story describes this as the circumference of home.
Hoelting assert that solitude is not loneliness he maintains that if one maintains a state of solitude for some time, he is likely to develop solipsism, which is essential for deciphering the mysteries of nature. In the beginning of the period of solitude, one is likely to experience a feeling that life is bleak. However, as intense thoughts develop inside a person, the feeling of weariness fades away and the individual views life positively (Hoelting 9).
Hoelting says that solitude and solipsism is necessary for positive and constructive thought. The character in his book has achieved many things he had thought were great feats a while ago (Hoelting 6). This emphasizes the concept of solipsism. Both concepts are necessary to realize achievement according to the characters in the book.
All the tree authors focus on the concept of solitude and solipsism. They all describe solitude as a prerequisite for solipsism. Thoreau, in his description of the life in the woods, claims that the best moments in life are found when one is alone. The physical situation is separate from the mind. On the other hand, Descartes describes perception as a deceitful thing. He presents a dilemma where he cannot ascertain the existence of the physical world.
However, he acknowledges existence of the mind since it can perceive. Descartes then continues to put the mind above the physical existence saying that every physical aspect of nature could be a result of the mind. Hoelting creates characters who find solitude productive. The characters gain their greatest achievements during periods of solitude. To all the authors, solitude and solipsism are positive and constructive products of the mind.
Works Cited
Descartes, René, and Donald A. Cress. Meditations on First Philosophy in which the existence of God and the distinction of the soul from the body are demonstrated. 2. ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1979. Print.
Hoelting, Kurt. The circumference of home: one man’s yearlong quest for a radically local life. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press ;, 2010. Print.
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden. New York: Philomel Books, 1990. Print.