Solipsism and The problem of other minds

[Relambrien]

You've probably already read at least some Descartes already, but if you haven't, I recommend it. He basically says the exact same thing you did, and tries to figure out what he can prove is true based on that.

One of his arguments goes like this: Consider some evil demon, whose only purpose is to trick you with every single thing you perceive or observe, including the fact that he doesn't exist. Red is actually blue, your computer is actually a lump of Jello (and your visual and touch sensations are being fooled into believing it's solid), whatever. Obviously, there's very little that we can say is certain about our existences given this, since we can't disprove that the demon exists.

However, the very fact that such a demon--if it did exist--would be able to trick you, implies that there is something for it to trick. That is, you exist, with certainty. Similarly, the concepts of "shape" and "color" also exist, as well as a few other things. Even if we assume the worst possible scenario, these things will still be true. You can check out some more of what he said if you're curious, in his Meditations.

Anyway, the way I reconciled myself with this possibility is that even if it were true, since I have no way of verifying one way or the other, it doesn't actually matter if it's true. I'm going to behave the same way regardless, since I can never find out what I -should- be doing. Might as well act assuming things are as I perceive them, since I get much more use and satisfaction out of my life that way.