Sherry asked:

I often ponder questions, as many before me have done, and many will continue to do. However,
when someone feels that they may have an idea or theory that is new, it may be assumed that it has
been previously addressed as there are many minds thinking, and publishing (I do not want to use
someone's ideas without permission). I do not know where to begin to see if my idea has any merit as
my own, and I understand philosophy is generally built upon the theories of others, however I remain
untrusting of explaining my idea to anyone else. It evolves around the probability and explanation of
other planes of existence. I am not an expert, in fact just someone who enjoys philosophy as a choice
over doing other things in my spare time. I know it is very complex, and I don't know how to approach
this subject to investigate the merit of my ideas, or how to establish if my theory is my own, as I am
writing a novel and would like to incorporate it somehow.

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Well, look. You're almost certainly correct: probably many others have had this idea. Let's assume
that. Then, why not talk about it? Unless you're scared of people making fun of you; not
unreasonable, but I'm afraid you're going to have to bite the bullet on this one.

Now, let's assume that you actually have an original idea. First, is it any good? I could have the idea
that there are other universes made of ice cream, and probably that's original, but so what? Again, a
reason to bite the bullet and put it out there. Second, let's assume it's a good idea. Ok... now, if you
get it out, you will have subjected it to others' scrutiny. And just what in this are you "untrusting" of?
They will make fun of you? They will steal it? As to the first, yes, probably some people will. And, so?
That happens to everyone.As to the second, yes, some people will. And, so? That alsohappens to
everyone.

So you can sit on it and wonder, or you can put it out there and get some feedback, some bad and
some good. Well, look at what's going on in the world... that's what's happening.People with good
ideas get them out. Mostly, the people who sit on their ideas are crackpots. Yes, sorry, but it's true.
Gregory Benford, for example, the science fiction writer who is also a practicing and respected
physicist, says that he's approached all the time by people with various ideas. And he can tell who the
crackpots are because they're the ones who get paranoid, hide their ideas, fear that he or someone
will "reveal" the "truths" or "insights" or whatever that they have found.

If you have an idea, get it out into the world. Whatever happens then, happens... but if it's good, you
have the satisfaction of having improved things, just a bit, one way or another. And if it's not... then try
again with another idea.

Steven Ravett Brown