Solipsism
noun /ˈsɒlɪpsɪz(ə)m/ — The unsettling idea that only your own mind can be certain.
Definition
The philosophical view that the self is all that can be known to exist; the tendency to believe one's own perspective is the only valid reality.
Beyond the definition
Solipsism is one of those ideas that once understood, briefly makes reality feel unstable. You can never truly verify that anyone else's inner experience exists. Most people dismiss it quickly — but the most curious minds sit with the discomfort a while.
Origin & history
From Latin solus 'alone' + ipse 'self'. Coined in the 19th century to name a position that philosophers had struggled with since Descartes.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His refusal to consider other perspectives bordered on philosophical solipsism.
Solipsism is the starting point of serious philosophy — and for most, the quick exit.
The film explores how grief can trap a person in a kind of emotional solipsism.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Solipsism” when the meaning fits your context: The philosophical view that the self is all that can be known to exist; the tendency to believe one's own perspective is the only valid reality.
Synonyms
self-absorption, subjectivism, egocentrism
Antonyms
Related words
- dialectic
- epistemology
- existential
- consciousness
Solipsism vs narcissism
Solipsism is a philosophical theory that only one's own mind can be proven to exist. Narcissism is a psychological trait characterized by excessive self-interest and vanity.
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See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Reflection in an Empty Room
An adult sits alone in a vast, empty room with a window overlooking a distant, open landscape.
The isolation of the figure in a vast, minimalist environment mirrors the solipsistic view that the internal self is the only certainty. The distant landscape suggests a world that feels unreachable or less substantial compared to the observer's own contained reality.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Solipsism" mean?
Solipsism is noun meaning: The unsettling idea that only your own mind can be certain.. The philosophical view that the self is all that can be known to exist; the tendency to believe one's own perspective is the only valid reality.
Where does the word "Solipsism" come from?
From Latin solus 'alone' + ipse 'self'. Coined in the 19th century to name a position that philosophers had struggled with since Descartes.