ARDOR

Let us entertain the notion that within the confines of a solipsistic perspective, our reality adheres to a set of laws akin to those found in the realm of physics.

Within this singular stream of consciousness, objects exist and traverse through space guided by these laws, yet they do not possess true substance; they exist only in the realm of imagination.

Thus, one could posit that in order to unfold our conscious experience from a given initial state, all that is required are the laws and conditions that govern this subjective reality.

Similarly, to predict the unfolding events of the physical world under the assumption of an objectively real external reality, the very same laws and conditions suffice to forecast the trajectory of the universe.

Could it not be argued then, that the explanatory prowess of both paradigms stands on equal footing, challenging the notion that solipsism is inherently deficient in this regard?

For those who question the origin and sustenance of our conscious experience within solipsism, pondering how it springs forth seemingly from nothing, one could raise a parallel query about the genesis of the external world within a realist framework.

In truth, our understanding of the ultimate origination of either reality remains elusive.

Indeed, one might even assert that realism encounters a greater hurdle in grappling with the enigmatic nature of consciousness. The elusive "hard problem" persists, leaving us bereft of a full-fledged explanation for the initial state of the cosmos, while also failing to account for the very existence of conscious experience.

Therefore, do we truly find an advantage in explanatory power between the vantage points of external world realism and solipsism?

Or do we instead confront a profound and enduring mystery that transcends the bounds of either interpretation?

Jan 30, 2025 | UN