Solipsism vs. Nihilism — What's the Difference?

A focus on the self as the only verifiable reality.

Can lead to existential despair or freedom.

The philosophical theory that only one's own mind is sure to exist.

Associated with extreme skepticism and pessimism.

Often considered an extreme form of skepticism.

Challenges the legitimacy of authority, morality, and truth.

Can lead to epistemological isolation.

Often arises in contexts of profound disillusionment.

Sometimes linked to idealism in philosophy.

The belief that life lacks objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

Solipsism ( (listen); from Latin solus 'alone', and ipse 'self') is the philosophical idea that only one's mind is sure to exist. As an epistemological position, solipsism holds that knowledge of anything outside one's own mind is unsure; the external world and other minds cannot be known and might not exist outside the mind.

Nihilism (; from Latin nihil 'nothing') is a philosophy, or family of views within philosophy, expressing negation (i.e., denial of) towards general aspects of life that are widely accepted within humanity as objectively real, such as knowledge, existence, and the meaning of life. Different nihilist positions hold variously that human values are baseless, that life is meaningless, that knowledge is impossible, or that some set of entities do not exist, are meaningless, or pointless.The study of nihilism may regard it as merely a label that has been applied to various separate philosophies, or as a distinct historical concept arising out of nominalism, skepticism, and philosophical pessimism, as well as possibly out of Christianity itself.

(Philosophy) The theory that the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.

(Philosophy) The doctrine that nothing actually exists or that existence or values are meaningless.

The view that the self is the only reality.

Relentless negativity or cynicism suggesting an absence of values or beliefs

Absorption with oneself without consideration for the needs and desires of others

Political belief or action that advocates or commits violence or terrorism without discernible constructive goals.

(philosophy) The idea that the self is all that exists or that can be proven to exist.

Also Nihilism A diffuse, revolutionary movement of mid-19th-century Russia that scorned authority and tradition and believed in reason, materialism, and radical change in society and government through terrorism and assassination.

Self-absorption, an unawareness of the views or needs of others; self-centeredness; egoism.

(Psychiatry) A delusion, experienced in some mental disorders, that the world or one's mind, body, or self does not exist.

Egotism.

The view that all endeavours are devoid of objective meaning.

Egoism.

The rejection of, or opposition to, religious beliefs, (inherent or objective) moral principles, legal rules, etc., often due to the view that life is meaningless (sense 1).

(philosophy) the philosophical theory that the self is all that you know to exist

The rejection of non-proven or non-rationalized assertions in the social and political spheres of society.

A delusion that oneself or the world, or parts thereof, have ceased to exist.

Alternative case form of Nihilism

A doctrine grounded on the negation of one or more meaningful aspects of life; in particular, the view that nothing in the world actually exists.

(countable) Something that is regarded as meaningless.

Nothingness; nihility.

The doctrine that nothing can be known; scepticism as to all knowledge and all reality.

The theories and practices of the Nihilists.

A revolutionary doctrine that advocates destruction of the social system for its own sake

The delusion that things (or everything, including the self) do not exist; a sense that everything is unreal

Complete denial of all established authority and institutions

Yes, solipsism can isolate individuals by emphasizing only personal mental experiences.

Nihilism can lead to a pessimistic view of life, though it also offers a form of radical freedom.

Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one's own mind is certain to exist.

Solipsism encourages deep self-reflection and exploration of personal consciousness.

Yes, by rejecting established norms and values, nihilism can empower individuals to define their own meanings and values.

Critics argue solipsism is impractical and disconnects individuals from reality and human relationships.

Nihilism is the belief that life has no intrinsic meaning or value.

Solipsism focuses on the certainty of one's own mind, whereas nihilism debates the absence of inherent meaning in life.

Solipsism is inherently unprovable as it bases its certainty solely on personal internal experience.

Nihilism primarily rejects belief in inherent meanings or values but does not necessarily reject all structures or systems.

Nihilism can lead to detachment from societal expectations and conventional morality, affecting behavior and attitudes.

Solipsism typically considers other people as constructions of one's own mind, potentially non-existent.

Arguments against solipsism often involve the commonality of experiences and the practical impossibility of ignoring external realities.

Nihilism is influenced by existentialism and often associated with figures like Nietzsche.

Yes, nihilism has been associated with various historical periods of existential crisis, such as post-war eras.