XIV 



SOLIPSISM 261 



sophic theory of knowledge would not be tolerated in 

 these days. 



In theory, however, Solipsism grants him the means to 

 achieve his end. If he can persuade himself that he 

 alone experiences, he can hold that whatever he feels 

 certain of is Knowledge, and the opinions of others 

 need no longer contradict his. He can treat them as 

 illusory equally with themselves, and he will consistently 

 ignore the opinions and cut their authors. 



The difference between this type of New Realism and 

 the first will be plainly this, that whereas Solipsism was 

 a necessity for the truth of the theory in the first case, in 

 the second it is only a convenience. 



(c] A third crypto-solipsistic form of New Realism has 

 been promulgated by Prof. S. Alexander in his pre 

 sidential address to the Aristotelian Society (1908). 

 Like so many realists, he has assumed the chief crux, 

 viz. that perception is unequivocally of the object, and 

 that the object is not mental but physical. It is assumed 

 also that perception makes no difference to the object, 

 and that therefore a hundred persons may all see the 

 same tree. So far this is only nai ve Realism, and not 

 obviously untenable. But what are we to think of the 

 further doctrine that the memory also of the tree is a 

 physical object ? Do the hundred persons have the same 

 memory-object, or does each have his own, and are there 

 as many objects as there are memories ? If so, the one 

 perceived tree has magically blossomed into a hundred 

 remembered ones, and these must all be related to the 

 tree and to each other. And what of the changes 

 memory-objects undergo ? Are they too all physical 

 and not mental ? The only way to reduce this plethoric 

 wealth of physical objects to something like a manage 

 able compass would seem to be that of Solipsism, and 

 this might also relieve the theory of the embarrassments 

 in which its obvious and avowed inability to account for 

 error at present involves it. 



6. One more example of a constructively solipsistic 

 doctrine may complete our survey. The doctrine that 



