Introduction
Solipsism is the radical philosophical position that only your mind exists and everything else—people, places, even the universe itself—is a projection or simulation. Long debated by philosophers, it’s now a meme in conspiracy and simulation forums: What if you’re the only “real” person, and everyone else is an NPC?
Origins
The roots of solipsism go back to ancient skepticism, but the idea took center stage with Descartes, Berkeley, and later, postmodern theorists. In the internet age, it’s both a metaphysical dread and a cosmic joke.
Theories
- Philosophical: Only the self can be truly known to exist. All perception is filtered and unverifiable.
- Conspiratorial: Some claim “reality” is an experiment, and everyone else is an actor, robot, or dream.
- Pop Culture: Solipsism shows up in films (“The Truman Show”), video games, and simulation theory forums.
Key Examples
- The “NPC” meme (non-player character) as a cultural expression of solipsist paranoia.
- Debates about consciousness in AI, dreams, and lucid simulation.
- Philosophy seminars and absurdist literature.
Critical Analysis
Solipsism is both the ultimate self-centered conspiracy and a philosophical abyss. If true, you’ll never know—unless you programmed yourself to forget.