They say there is a fine line between genius & madness - where does this fine line lie??!!?

Question

Although a light-hearted question, it's worth noting that Einstein was regarded as mad but we know that was far from the truth, completely the opposite in fact. Hence my curiousity in asking you all for you valid/interesting comments on this time old question?!

Answer 1

You won't know until you cross it.

Answer 2

One of the characteristics of a genius is the ability to think creatively.

BUT...the farther outside the box you are, the more dissociated you become from the norms, values and thought processes of the mass of ordinary folks operating inside the box. You become detached and people might see you as an odd duck, not relate well to you. The sense of isolation and being cut off from the artifacts of consensus reality can push a person to the vague border territory along the edges of craziness or even insanity.

Though this rarely happens. Few people get that far out on the edge. What we prefer is what was called by Shakespeare "a fine madness."

Answer 3

The line is at social acceptance and social disfavor. An intelligent individual is almost inherently found as disagreeable in many social circles - they're convictions can be very scary to the herd. However, when a genius begins to articulate and formulate wildly controversial, revolutionary, or bold ideas he crosses the line of general social acceptance and steps into social disfavor. The genius is made a madman by his alienation from humanity. Whether this means that the genius is merely seen as mad by the masses because of their fear of him, or if the genius's fear, disappointment in, and seclusion from mankind has driven him into madness is debatable.

Answer 4

Being gifted, fundementally lazy and pathologically immature, I would suggest that the difference between genius and insanity lies in the quantity of work you are willing to put into anything and the nature of said work.

I took one look at the ammount of dull work that would be involved in the activities of a genius and leapt over the boundary into madness, where I have been very happy ever since, using my talents to amuse myself with the kind of questions for which I'm noted on here and other such nonsense.

Answer 5

I think these terms bear both subjective AND somewhat more objective definitions. If you're nuts, but RICH... you're "eccentric" ....If you're a "genius" intellectually, but homeless, you might be seen by most as nuts. Let's not forget the cultural and popular influences that become unnoticed factors in creating definitions.
The "scientific" definition, which is purported to be the one that is as "objective" as possible - is that madness / insanity is being out of touch with reality. Symptoms include auditory or visual hallucinations, delusions (fixed, false beliefs), etc. HOWEVER....even THESE are subject to .....well.....subjectivity. One person's definition of insanity (belief in God ... for an atheist) is another's (the saints of the Catholic Church) genius . One society's definition of genius (Hitler's military prowess for the Germany of World War 2) can be seen by another society (America at the time) - as madness.
Having presented the issue of cultural relativism; science DOES attempt to more objectively relate these concepts in terms of the "heightened activity" in the brains -- of those considered brilliant AND/OR insane. The lead character in the movie "A Beautiful Mind" exemplifies both the benefits of active neurons (his mathematical brilliance) as well as the "side effects" of overfunctioning brain centers controlling vision and hearing (triggering hallucinations).
I hope this helps in your thinking about the issue. I guess I'll be seen as either a GENIUS on the topic.........or completely nuts.

Answer 6

Everything described as madness/illness or magic is all unexplained science.

The definition of madness is somebody else's opinion (a doctor perhaps) that you can not tell the difference between the truth (as most people see it, we do live in a democracy) and what is not true.

If you have been described as either you are heading in the right direction,life may get quite complicated but it will be worth it.

Answer 7

The line is so fine that it has not the power to stop an idea from being used by a person who has not the kind of love humanity needs.

Answer 8

Sign of the times, right now, you could be considered mad if something you suggest goes against the norm, but documented well., but lets say, 50 or 100 years from now, someone reads it, and tries it, POOF, your a genius :)

Answer 9

i think liberty & choice is the fine line between genius & madness.
choose the worst way make you like mad man & choose the best way help you to recieve best things & made you like a genius & sucessful man

Answer 10

To me the line is this; there's functional genius which to me is true genius & there's disfunctional "genius" which is madness.

If what you're doing is brilliant but totally unpreductive then you're wasting yourself and therefore mad.

Answer 11

There is no line at all. Most true geniuses are on a different plane altogether. What we don't understand we just call mad. As it saves thinking which hurts our brains.