Chapter 3: The Social Contract in a Solipsistic World

If we naturally struggle to believe others are “actually alive,” why do we bother being good to them? This is where the social contract meets the reality of our internal isolation.

The Logic of the Ghost

In a purely solipsistic mindset, other people are essentially “ghosts” or “NPCs” (Non-Player Characters). If they aren’t real, then ethical behavior becomes a matter of convenience rather than morality. We follow the law not because we care about the “ghost,” but because we don’t want the “game” to punish us.

Beyond Personal Utility

A functional society requires us to act as if everyone is real, even when our biology tells us we are the only ones at the center of the stage. This is the foundation of the modern social contract. It is an agreement to respect the “aliveness” of others to ensure the safety of our own.

The Digital Breakdown

The current “unproctored” nature of the internet has weakened this contract. When you cannot see the face of the person you are interacting with, the illusion that they aren’t real becomes easier to maintain. This leads to the desensitization mentioned in your chat: people ignore the hurt of others because, in a digital space, that hurt has no weight. It is just data.