Probably, few people know that behind the words of the popular song of the "Guests from the Future" group lies not only the lyrics and the emotional intensity of separation, but also a philosophical trend known for about three centuries that denies the objective existence of the surrounding world.
Instructions
Step 1
Solipsism is a philosophical concept based on the acceptance of the individual human consciousness as the only and undoubted reality. Directly accessible to each person, his own consciousness, together with sensations that can also be generated by consciousness, is the only thing about which any person can say that it really exists. Nevertheless, a person receives the manifestations of the so-called objective world from his own sensations, formed by five senses, the reliability of the perception of which cannot be unequivocally proven. To date, there is also no evidence of the objective existence of reality outside the thinking subject.
Step 2
In fact, solipsism is at the intersection of psychology and philosophy. A deep understanding of the subjectivity of the perception of the world can generate changes in the psychology of an individual and his social behavior. For many people, such a simple truth (it seems simple to those who understood it) remains inaccessible simply because few people think about it. One of the excellent examples of the description of solipsism in modern literature is the story of V. Pelevin "The Ninth Dream of Vera Pavlovna." In it you can read about how the psychology of a person who has deeply accepted the truth about the absence of an objectively existing world is changing.
Step 3
However, in its extreme manifestation, solipsism can be the basis of selfishness and egocentrism. Psychologically, this type of worldview becomes close to individualism, which emphasizes the paramount importance of personality and professes the principle of relying only on oneself. The massive spread of such a psychology of extreme individualism provokes an exclusively consumer attitude towards other people and the benefits of civilization, which is now actively promoted by Western culture.
Step 4
However, it would be shortsighted to consider solipsism only a negative phenomenon of philosophical thought. If a person who has understood the subjectivity of the perceived world has ceased to depend on the so-called external factors and other people, then the only thing left for him to do during his life is to comprehend the nature of his own consciousness and personal individuality. And in this sense, another philosophical direction, Zen Buddhism, turns out to be close to solipsism. Zen is a way to understand the desires of your soul and see your own nature, to feel what the soul was born for. Unlike solipsism, Zen Buddhism has an ultimate goal. It is about achieving enlightenment through getting rid of suffering. This is facilitated by calming the mind, liberation from rigid principles and attachments.
Step 5
It is possible that you will be one step closer to enlightenment when you can demonstrate to others by clapping one hand.
