Solipsism is the philosophical idea that only one’s own 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. As a metaphysical position, solipsism goes further to the conclusion that the world and other minds do not exist.
The Bible does not explicitly mention solipsism by name, since the concept originated with modern philosophers like René Descartes. However, the Bible provides perspective on key issues related to solipsism, including the existence of other minds, the reliability of sensory perception, and the knowability of objective truth. Examining relevant biblical passages can shed light on a Christian approach to solipsism.
The Existence of Other Minds
A key tenet of metaphysical solipsism is the nonexistence of other minds. The solipsist maintains that he or she alone exists as a conscious being; all other apparent people are just projections or figments of the solipsist’s own mind. The Bible firmly rejects this notion and assumes the real existence of many conscious individuals in relationship with God and each other.
Numerous biblical passages reveal that God relates to and communicates with a variety of conscious beings. For example, the entirety of the Ten Commandments presumes that other minds exist alongside one’s own (Exodus 20:1-17). Jesus frequently engages with other minds during his earthly ministry, holding meaningful dialogues and debates with his disciples and opponents. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fills the believers gathered in Jerusalem, empowering them for ministry (Acts 2:1-4). The epistles, such as Paul’s letters to the various churches, presuppose meaningful communication between conscious individuals.
Biblical language about fellowship and community also assumes that other minds exist. When Jesus says “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20), he implies that multiple conscious subjects can gather together and relate to one another and to God. Passages about loving one’s neighbor (Mark 12:31) or bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) presume the real presence of other minds with ethical significance.
So clearly, the Bible takes for granted the existence of many conscious beings who can relate to God and each other in meaningful ways. This contradicts the extreme metaphysical solipsism that no other minds exist outside one’s own.
The Reliability of Sensory Perception
Another issue relevant to solipsism is the reliability of sensory experience. Since the solipsist can only be sure of his or her own mind, the existence and accuracy of external sensory input remains uncertain. Biblical revelation affirms that human sensory perception reliably corresponds to external reality.
Goddesigned human beings to receive and process sensory data from the world around them. Passages about God’s creative work indicate that he formed humankind with five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell (Exodus 4:11, Proverbs 20:12). Jesus frequently references people’s sensory experiences as reliable ways to gain knowledge. He appeals to his hearers’ visual observations (Matthew 16:2-3), uses miracles over nature as visual proofs of God’s activity (John 2:1-11), and invites Thomas to touch his resurrected body to verify its tangibility (John 20:27).
The biblical authors present God as the ultimate source of sensory input, designing the world and human senses to complement each other. David praises God for fashioning the intricate workings of the ear (Psalm 94:9), while John calls Jesus the Logos through whom all things are created (John 1:3). So the reliability of the external world known through the senses stems from God’s intentional design.
At appropriate times, the Bible does warn against overreliance on sensory experience alone (2 Corinthians 5:7). But overall, Scripture affirms human sensory perception as a God-given means to accurately access information about the external world. This contradicts the extreme epistemological solipsism that knowledge of the external world is utterly uncertain.
The Knowability of Objective Truth
A solipsist might claim it is impossible to know any objective truth beyond one’s own mind. But the Bible repeatedly affirms that God has made objective and universal truth known to human beings. This truth transcends individual minds and is grounded in God’s own perfectly wise and rational character.
From the moral absolutes in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) to mathematical and cosmological realities assumed throughout Scripture, the biblical authors view objective truth as knowable and worth pursuing. Solomon urges his son to acquire wise judgment (Proverbs 4:5), while Paul prays that the Philippians would abound in spiritual discernment and knowledge (Philippians 1:9). Such virtues necessitate accessible objective truth that transcends subjective preferences.
Jesus declares that he is the Truth (John 14:6), the embodiment of divine wisdom and knowledge guiding humankind to an accurate understanding of objective reality. He claims that the Holy Spirit will lead his followers into all truth (John 16:13), empowering them to gain knowledge that aligns with God’s perfect understanding of the world.
So in contrast to extreme solipsist epistemology, the Bible indicates that human beings can access objective truth because God has revealed wisdom to them in various ways. This truth provides an accurate standard for testing and calibrating human knowledge.
Healthy Epistemic Humility
Though rejecting extreme solipsism, the Bible does promote an epistemic humility acknowledging the limitations of human knowledge. Passages about human finitude (Psalm 139:6), the mysteries of God (Deuteronomy 29:29), and tendencies toward deception (Jeremiah 17:9) caution against claiming absolute or comprehensive knowledge.
Moses’ encounter with the burning bush displays an appropriate humility before the unknown. When Moses asks for God’s name, he receives the cryptic title “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:13-14). This suggests that human requests for exhaustive knowledge of God will remain partly unfulfilled. Likewise, Paul humbly asserts that now “we see only a reflection as in a mirror” while awaiting greater understanding in the future (1 Corinthians 13:12).
So while affirming that objective truth can be known, the Bible also encourages humility and mystery in the quest for knowledge. Christians should maintain proper epistemic modesty even as they affirm that foundational truths about God, morality, and the world can be grasped through divine revelation.
Avoiding Extreme Views
In conclusion, the Bible avoids endorsing the epistemological and metaphysical extremes of solipsism, while upholding important insights about the limits of human knowledge. Christians can thoughtfully engage with questions about perceptions, other minds, and truth without slipping into radical skepticism or subjectivism. Just as in many other areas, the Bible charts a middle course on solipsism – affirming knowable objective truth while allowing room for mystery in understanding an infinite God.