The concept of "madness" is not one with which psychologists, psychiatrists, or neurologists, of the 21st century have any dealings. Musicians, yes ... see above.
Philosophers also still talk about madness, because philosophy is uniquely keyed to its past, still arguing cases litigated by Plato or Philo or Lao-Tsu.
Anyway: Justin Garson, a professor of philosophy at CUNY, has written a book simply titled Madness: A Philosophical Exploration.
Garson's point is that in ancient times there were two very different views of what the ancients called madness. There was madness as dysfunction, or madness as strategy.
When medieval Christian philosophers addressed the point, they tended to combine both ideas. Madness could serve as an earthly purgatory, both punishing and improving.
It is early modern thinkers, from Locke to Kant, whom Garson credits/blames for the dominance of madness-as-dysfunction in our own time.
A review devoted largely to summarizing the book may be found here:
I can only imagine a musician's take on this, having worked that profession for a few years. To lay blame or assign credit, while interesting, does not seem useful although it might sell the book to a few. The functional maniac gets my respect and admiration: he or she is able to turn madness to productivity, transforming disability to advantage. I have known several of these people and remain married to one. In such cases, the distinction between sanity and madness is thin indeed.
ReplyDeleteI am, roughly speaking, a functional maniac myself and my wife is the tolerant angel who makes it possible. God speed from our family to yours!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have a nephew, name of Christopher. And, another who is a musician.
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