solipsism

English

WOTD – 27 November 2011    

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Latin solus (“alone”) + ipse (“self”) + -ism.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈsɑlɪpsɪzm/

• Audio (US, Northern California)

  (file)

Noun

solipsism (plural solipsisms)

1. (philosophy) The theory that the self is all that exists or that can be proven to exist.
2. Self-absorption, an unawareness of the views or needs of others.
   • 2012 August 21, Jason Heller, “The Darkness: Hot Cakes (Music Review)”, The Onion AV Club:

     Self-mythology has always been part of The Darkness’ shtick, but here Hawkins and crew forget to back it up with music catchy enough to transcend the solipsism.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Bing West

     The solipsism that too frequently infects high commands has no place on a battlefield.

Related terms

• solipsistic
• solipsistically
• solipsist

Translations

theory

• Armenian: սոլիպսիզմ (hy) (solipsizm) 
• Czech: solipsismus (cs) m
• Dutch: solipsisme (nl) n
• Estonian: solipsism (et)
• Finnish: solipsismi (fi)
• French: solipsisme (fr) m

• German: Solipsismus (de) m
• Malagasy: sôlipsisma (mg), fandavanjava-hita (mg)
• Russian: солипси́зм (ru) (solipsízm) m 
• Serbo-Croatian: солипсизам (sh) (solipsízam) m
• Spanish: solipsismo (es) m

self-absorption

• Dutch: zelfingenomenheid (nl)

• French: vanité (fr) f