Single Idea 6932

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 4. Solipsism]

Full Idea

Only through communication and conversation between man and man do ideas arise; not alone, but only with others, does one reach notions and reason in general.

Gist of Idea

Ideas arise through communication, and reason is reached through community

Source

Ludwig Feuerbach (Principles of Philosophy of the Future [1843], §41)

Book Reference

Feuerbach,Ludwig: 'Principles of the Philosophy of the Future', ed/tr. Vogel,M [Hackett 1986], p.58


A Reaction

This is a strikingly modern view of the solipsism problem, and is close in spirit to Wittgenstein's Private Language Argument (Ideas 4143 +4158). Feuerbach is interested in universals rather than rules. I prefer Feuerbach.

Related Ideas

Idea 4143 One cannot obey a rule 'privately', because that is a practice, not the same as thinking one is obeying [Wittgenstein]

Idea 4158 An 'inner process' stands in need of outward criteria [Wittgenstein]