Is madness simply genius in disguise?

Answer 1

I think that madness, at times, can be genius in disguise. Throughout history, society has been reshaping the concept of madness according to its cultural, social, economic and political contexts. On various occasions, history books discern the life of genius individuals condemned by the rest of society later on recognized as great imaginative, creative minds and thinkers. Michel Foucault was obsessed with concepts of death and madness. In his “madness and civilization,” Foucault’s idea on madness equates his view on the birth of the prison. The mad must be separated (fear of contagion), cured so that they conform to and can integrate once more society. In my mind, there are definitely valid cases of dementia, folie, mania and madness. But, there are cases of excessive (out of the norm), avant-garde, creative individuals whose genius is misunderstood as madness by the conventional; later to be perceived as some of the greatest minds of their Times.

Answer 2

No. It is said that genius is a form of madness and this may be because people who are not at that level cant understand the intracacies or sublties of that more extreme form of logic. People with very low IQ's and certain disorders are unable to properly function in "normal" society because they cant grasp the concepts or have the same level of understanding of the consequences of their actions that everyone else has and sometimes the heights of genius just cannot be grasped by the rest of us and theri logic seems like madness to us.
Having said that madness is not genius mad people can behave excentrically or do strange things but that does not mean that they have a mental capacitiy/abilities to function at a level well above the norms.
I would suggest that Einstein probably had a few strange behaviours and did (constructive) things that the rest of had trouble understanding but I would think that there is no comparison to the nutter in the local institution that did incomprehensible (usually destructiive) things like mass murder and so on.

Answer 3

"Much madness is divinest sense." -Emily Dickinson

The answer, however, is no.

There's a common belief that geniuses tend to be a bit off psychologically but enough studies have been done to show absolutely no significant correlation between madness or psychological disorders of any sort and intelligence.

People with cognitive disorders like autistic-savants would seem to be an exception but aren't. Though many have astounding abilities in areas such as math, visual arts, and music the expression of these abilities lacks any substantive meaning. A savant who can rattle off prime numbers faster than any computer does so most often because it is calming to him or her not because he or she can appreciate the intrinsic meaning of mathematics or the intellectual value of prime numbers. It's a unique and utterly astounding ability but lacks the understanding of genius.

Answer 4

OMG roflmaopimp!! I need to tell my brother you can record something for the blow up doll to say. He says he's getting bored cuz she just lays there. Back to your question though. I don't think there is a line at all, unless it's imaginary/invisible, like the ones between the states on the map. It's all a matter of perception. Some may think you're mad, but as you said...your partner seems to think you're genius. :o) Have a great day Wil!

Answer 5

no madness is never a genius whereas a genius could be wrongly iterpreted as a mad man. You take the example of galileo who first stated that the world is round and the people of his days thought that he is a lunatic and even put him in jail but today the science has told us that the world is really round hope this clears your doubt.

Answer 6

I dont think so.
A mad person do,think, and see things and cannot comprehend to her abilities if they are real or not. A mad person has totally lost connection with reality
A genius comprehends and knows these limitations at limitless extent.
A genius definitely knows and acknowledges the fact that he is thinking, seeing, and doing things that are quite insane.

For Ophellia above, I would like to point out that Autism is not a Psychological disorder, you implied they do fall into that category even if you mentioned about cognitive disorder. Autism is learning and communication disability. There is a significant difference what you're trying to convey here. psychological disorders would include psychosis, split personality, neurosis, manic disorders. Autism definitely do not fall into this category.

Answer 7

Madness is the wondeful and true state of a person deeply in Love.
"You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen -- the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives, -- I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the curséd thieves."
Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me.
And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked face and my soul was inflamed with love for the sun, and I wanted my masks no more. And as if in a trance I cried, "Blessed, blessed are the thieves who stole my masks."
Thus I became a madman.
And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness; the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us.
But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief."

Answer 8

It is sheer madness the disguise of genius...simply makes one mad.

Answer 9

Could be there is reason to believe so and otherwise, too almost al intellectual geniuses have been a little eccentric. It takes a bit of madness to see beyond the obvious and think out of the box.

Answer 10

Madness is genius in attempt, its those who dont do with mediocrity , they are either king or slave, there is a fine line that separates the two