solipsism
UK[ˈsɒlɪpsɪzəm]US[ˈsɑːlɪpsɪzəm]
n
The philosophical idea that only one's own mind is sure to exist, and that knowledge of anything outside one's own mind is unsure.
n
A preoccupation with one's own feelings, personal interests, etc., that is an extreme form of egocentrism.
Morpheme Breakdown
sol
ips
ism
sol
alone
ips
self
ism
doctrine
Etymology
The term 'solipsism' is a modern philosophical coinage from the 19th century, constructed from Latin components to precisely name a specific epistemological concept. It literally combines solus (alone) and ipse (self) to form the core idea of "the self alone." The suffix -ism then frames this as a formal doctrine or theory. Thus, the word's logic moves from the concrete Latin roots for "alone" and "self" to the abstract philosophical theory denying the certainty of any reality external to one's own mind. This etymological construction directly mirrors the theory's radical subjective idealism.
Analysis
Structure: sol (alone) + ips (self) + ism (doctrine)
- sol: From Latin solus, meaning "alone, sole, only." It functions as a root conveying the sense of singularity and isolation.
- ips: From Latin ipse, meaning "self, himself, itself." It functions as a root intensifying the reflexive, self-referential nature.
- ism: From Greek -ismos, a suffix forming nouns of action, state, or doctrine. It functions as a nominalizer indicating a system of thought or belief.
Examples
His argument veered dangerously close to solipsism, doubting the independent reality of other people.
The novel explores the solipsism of its protagonist, who is trapped within his own perceptions.
Critics accused the theory of leading to an untenable philosophical solipsism.