solipsism

noun

so·lip·sism | \ ˈsō-ləp-ˌsi-zəm

, ˈsä-\

Definition of solipsism

: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing also : extreme egocentrism

Other Words from solipsism Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about solipsism

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Did You Know?

Fans of René Descartes credit the French philosopher with introducing solipsism as a major problem of modern philosophy, but the word solipsism most likely sprang from a French satire written by Giulio Clemente Scotti in 1652 called La Monarchie des Solipses. The term wasn't used in English until the late 19th century, when solipsism, a composite of the Latin solus ("alone") and ipse ("self"), was applied purely in the philosophical sense. Recently the word has taken on another, more general sense, suggesting an ego-driven selfishness or self-indulgence.

Examples of solipsism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The reader and writer both self-transcend; a seemingly private act, reading counteracts solipsism. — C. E. Morgan, New York Times, "Galloping Through History," 30 Mar. 2018 Questions of luck and social privilege, fate and free will, empathy and solipsism are woven throughout this discursive narrative whose detail-rich sequences lead to psychological insights and unexpected revelations. — Tom Nolan, WSJ, "Mysteries: A Case of Mistaken Identity," 11 Oct. 2018 For a pop celebrity, solipsism comes as easily as breathing. — Greg Kot, chicagotribune.com, "Kanye West goes inside on 'Ye,' maybe — or he might be trolling us all," 1 June 2018 Think about your personal devices, those technologies of solipsism that have flourished in the past two decades. — Daniel Mendelsohn, Town & Country, "Is This the End of Civility As We Know It?," 29 June 2016 The political sphere, as has become super apparent, is a bad place for solipsism. — Thomas Harlander, Los Angeles Magazine, "Maybe We Should Take David Lynch’s Thoughts on Trump with a Grain of Salt," 27 June 2018 What such critics see as a license for solipsism was in truth a call to recognize and respect the dignity of others. — New York Times, "Review: Take the Next Trolley to ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’," 6 June 2018 Less concerned with questions of form and style than their autofiction forebears, these novels and stories suggest that fiction has finally begun to move from its place of deep solipsism to address a deepening sense of futility. — Megan O’grady, New York Times, "Read Any Antisocial Novels Lately?," 10 May 2018 Anyway, what is solipsism in wartime but the selfishness of survival? — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, "Walter Kempowski’s Epic Novel of Germany in Collapse," 21 Mar. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'solipsism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.