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Barney Woods

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Is there a link between insanity and genius?

Insanity, genius, mental illness and madness are all labels we give to people who think and behave in ways that seem beyond, or outside what is seen as 'normal'.

Firsly, what is 'normal', and who labels it so?

Does 'mental illness' deserve such a label, or can so-called normality widen its scope to accept it as 'thinking differently' instead?

What and where is the demarcation line between madness and genius - and who draws that line?

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    edward long 100+

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    Aug 26 2012: Nowhere is the link between insanity and genius more observable than when a woman asks her husband if her pants/skirt/dress/shorts makes her look fat. Upon later review every given answer will be an example on one or the other. Also, any time behavior is off the minimum standard checklist there is a potential for re-labeling.

    • Barney Woods

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      Aug 27 2012: Love the reply Edward! :-)

      I think you're right - standardizing and labelling are both important in this discussion.

      In most things (including pants), labelling should be firmly at the back.
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        edward long 100+

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        Aug 27 2012: Thank you for your fitting response. What folly to put labeling in the front.
        Professor Hayakawa says:
        "[Genius] is conceived as a mental power far beyond explanation in terms of heritage or education and manifests itself by exceptional originality and extraordinary intelligence , surpassing that of most intellectually superior people:. . . " I think he is right that when a person's specific mental powers go beyond explanation such labels as "bizarre"; "eccentric"; "abnormal"; "weird"; even "insane", might be wrongly applied. Hate those labels!

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