Is the difference between insanity and genius measured by accomplishment? 

I am genuinely insane, not by my standards, but by yours! I have read Catch 22; one cannot conclude oneself to be insane if you are sane enough to know what insanity is and can judge yourself to be such. This is not my issue,  mine is opposite in that; I believe myself to be the only sane person left on the planet... because somewhere along the line it appears 'the sane', (you lot), have lost the plot!

Contrarily, I am significantly self-aware enough to realise that this revalation is the genuine and real inherent definition of insanity…hence yes. If I conclude that I am the only sane one left, I must also accept that I am in fact, insane. The official but debatably wrongful medical  diagnosis, I am bi-polar; or eternally conflicted.

Surely, the difference between insanity and genius is purely the measure of ones accomplishments; but what is accomplishment ... to any preconceived genius who has no desire to accomplish anything? However, I am fully prepared to take one for the team; this article was written by... ‘A Proper Nutter!’  

Unfortunately, my ego often gets the better of me from time to time and thus requests an answer to the question: What is the relationship between insanity and genius? Are they two sides of the same coin, or are they completely unrelated; bi-polar opposites? One must conclude, to have the mind of either one must be contrary to the norm, if not identifiably unique. This question has fascinated philosophers, psychologists, and artists for centuries, and there is no definitive academic answer; you just have to ‘know it through experience’. However, one way to approach the question is to look at the outcomes of the creative process. In other words, the difference between insanity and genius being measured by an individual’s accomplishments.

Insanity and genius are both associated with high levels of creativity, which is the ability to produce novel and valuable ideas. Creativity involves divergent thinking, which is the generation of multiple possible solutions to a problem, and convergent thinking, which is the evaluation and selection of the best solution. Both insanity and genius can enhance divergent thinking, by allowing the mind to explore unusual and unconventional associations. However, insanity and genius differ in their ability to perform convergent thinking, which requires logic, rationality, and self-criticism, often not easy for the insane. It is hard to envisage ‘outside the box’ when your confined within it and vice versa.

Insanity is a term that encompasses various mental disorders that impair one's ability to function normally in society. Some common forms of insanity are schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and tiptop of the madness-tree, multiple personality disorder. For an insight into this disorder, I suggest you watch the movie 'Split' which includes a fantastic depiction performed by James McAvoy.  These disorders can affect one's perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior, leading to delusions, hallucinations, mood swings, and irrational actions.

While these symptoms can sometimes stimulate creative insights, they can also hinder one's ability to evaluate and communicate them effectively. The tell tale signs, that are often missed by psychiatrists, are usually at first inception of insanity; pacificst nutters tend to have a devine intervention, (often with Jesus or Mohamed) whilst violent psychopaths, are more often open to fierce physical violence and not just overassertive. Most are often encapsulated in delusions of granduer, enhanced with a varying smidge of God complex. ... One, has the belief in a greater force, the other has the belief he/she is that force.

One of the easiest ways to conceive of continually living in two minds, is if you introduce the possible complexity of living in multiple realities at the same time; a genuine concept known in Native Latin American cultures as ‘Otre-Mundo’. You can experience an (equivalent?) level of detachment by buying and living part of your life in the metaverse via a VR headset... like your children, and your children's children, are going to do (like it or not). However this is actually impossible for any 'single-minded', normal person to even envisage or understand, nor begin to accomplish... living 2 separate lives could seem akin to the stereotypical schizophrenic characters of Jeckyl and Hyde.

They, or should I say you, are determined "normal" by a psychiatrist, bastions of all things sane; the one you never visit. [Doctors possibly akin to Hannibal Lecter or Dr. Harold Shipman?] the truth is never as it seems on the surface. Many people are often in 2 minds ... and just don't realise it; some do of course. And if so, imagine being a paranoid schitzophrenic twin... that's a trip!

As an example, Vincent van Gogh was a brilliant painter who apparently suffered from bipolar disorder and psychosis. He painted his hallucinations and emotions with vivid colors and expressive strokes, but he also cut off his own ear and eventually committed suicide. His paintings are widely admired today, but he died poor and unrecognized, just like Nicola Tesla… whilst today, they are both renowned, making real Genius somewhat posthumous… could this be because they were both ‘way ahead of their time?’  

Another example is John Nash, my second favourite genius, due mainly to the Hollywood movie depiction ‘A Beautiful Mind’. A brilliant mathematician who suffered from paranoid schizophrenia [and so am I, who said that?]. He made groundbreaking contributions to game theory and differential geometry, but he also believed that he was being pursued by secret agents and aliens ("Sufferin' succotash! Awweeans"). He won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1994, but he spent many years in psychiatric hospitals. They never found the Aliens… until now!

Genius is a term that refers to exceptional intellectual or creative ability that results in significant achievements in one's field. Some common traits of genius are intelligence, originality, curiosity, persistence, and passion. These traits can enable one to produce novel and valuable ideas that challenge the status quo and advance human knowledge. And unfortunately, traits that I personally don’t possess; persistence and passion being long removed, along with the desire to accomplish anything.

On a side note, one qualifying factor to be an American genius, is being ‘a millionaire’ … I consider this to be the foolishness of measuring genius by finance, but alas it is the way the capitalist world has turned. If you’re not rich, you’re not clever enough to be a genius; capitalist thinking? Or is it a genuine delusion when you further investigate the mind of our greatest modern-day genius, Nicola Tesla, who tragically died a pauper in his 80’s and is without doubt, demonstrably superior to any of his peers in the same era.   Albert Einstein was a brilliant German/Jewish physicist and theorist who developed the theory of relativity along with the concept of mass-energy equivalence. In my opinion he was incorrect, but he provided the impirical and empirical mime for failing forward; Genius. He used his imagination and intuition to formulate his ideas. He also used his logic and mathematics to test and prove his theories… which have since been proven to be both correct and incorrect... because they were academic theories of a bygone era, but we had to get there, to get here. As an example, we now know the speed of sound is faster than the speed of light and that density at the speed of light, or a Photon = Zero.
However, his discoveries revolutionized physics and earned him the Nobel Prize. For me personally his cleverest observation was when he was asked what it was like to be a genius… his response? Go and ask Nicola Tesla, a Genius answer from a fellow Genius.

Leonardo da Vinci, a brilliant artist, scientist, engineer, and inventor; it is said he was so way ahead of his time, it was nothing short of incredible. He created masterpieces of painting such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. He was also an inventor and designed machines such as helicopters, tanks, and submarines , way  back in the year 1500 long before human flight was a concept in anybodies reality. He was a pioneer of anatomy, optics, hydraulics, and mechanics... yet another one in a trillion. However, reflections and research into his personal character offer a fascinating mix of admiration and bewilderment. Often Leonardo would walk alone at night, carrying a torch and playing a lute, seemingly lost in thought, an indication of a troubled soul? (Bernardino de' Vorenzi') 

Utilizing these examples, we can conceptualize the difference between insanity and genius as being measured by accomplishment, the problem being that if you do not wish to accomplish anything, then you cannot be a genius; but insane... it's a special club with a nice yellow bus. Voluntarily broke and unwilling, nor wanting to accomplish cannot be genius, it just fits like a glove. If my life's mission or purpose were to bring about world peace or make the world a better place; aka to achieve the impossible... it is logical to conclude that accomplishing the impossible is an infinite challenge that will drive one insane. … Voila!

Both insanity and genius can foster creativity, but only genius can translate creativity into achievement. Insanity can impair one's ability to evaluate and communicate one's ideas effectively, while genius can enhance it. Insanity can lead to isolation and suffering, while genius can lead to recognition and contribution.

As a further example; the dichotomy between the insanity and genius of Adolf Hitler is a complex and often debated topic. There is no doubt that Hitler was a brilliant orator and strategist, and he was able to rise to power and lead Germany through a period of great upheaval. However, he was also responsible for the deaths of millions of people, and his actions were ultimately driven by a twisted ideology of racial superiority.

Some historians argue that Hitler was insane, pointing to his erratic behavior and his delusional beliefs about the Aryan race. Others argue that he was simply a product of his time, and that his actions were not necessarily indicative of mental illness. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether they believe Hitler was insane or not.

There is no doubt, however, that Hitler was a complex and contradictory figure. He was both brilliant yet evil and was capable of applying both convergent and divergent thought processing to accomplish a goal; one that can be quantified as deluded... his legacy continues to be debated today.

Here are some of the evidences that support the view that Hitler was insane:

• He had a history of mental illness. Hitler's mother suffered from depression, and his father was rumored to be bipolar. Hitler himself was diagnosed with anxiety and insomnia, and he may have also suffered from schizophrenia.
• He had delusions of grandeur. Hitler believed that he was destined to lead Germany to greatness, and he often spoke of himself in messianic terms. He also believed that the Aryan race was superior to all others, and that he was on a mission to cleanse the world of inferior races.
• He was impulsive and irrational. Hitler often made decisions based on emotion rather than logic, and he was quick to lash out at his enemies. He was also willing to take risks that most people would consider reckless.

However, there is also evidence that suggests that Hitler was not insane.

• He was able to plan and execute complex schemes. Hitler was able to mastermind the rise of the Nazi Party and the invasion of Poland, two of the most ambitious undertakings in history. He was also able to maintain control of Germany for over a decade, despite facing numerous challenges.
• He was able to manipulate people. Hitler was a master of persuasion, and he was able to convince millions of people to follow him. He was also able to exploit the fears and prejudices of the German people to his advantage.
• He was able to learn from his mistakes. Hitler was not infallible, and he made many mistakes during his time in power. However, he was also able to learn from these mistakes and adapt his strategies accordingly.

Insanity and genius are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some geniuses may also suffer from mental disorders. However, they are not necessarily correlated either, as some insane people may not be creative at all. The thin line between insanity and genius is not a fixed boundary, but a dynamic balance between divergent and convergent thinking… so who gets to judge?

The difference between insanity and genius is not only a matter of academic interest, but also a matter of practical relevance. In today's complex and competitive world, creativity is essential for innovation and progress. However, creativity also comes with risks and challenges. How can we foster creativity without falling into insanity? How can we recognize genius without ignoring sanity? How can we balance divergent and convergent thinking without losing our identity? These are some of the questions that we need to ask ourselves as we strive to achieve our full potential as creative beings.

"Pissed off ... I am"

Moral of the story: Know your Star Wars, VXIIII  ‘the shit’s getting real’

As a posthumous pantheist living in the era of simulation theory, are these two concepts not one in the same thing? We are all individuals, collectively playing a part in the same game, a game that some amongst us are playing to win... whilst to those who play Roblox and Minecraft; that is not the point of the game, it's about building bridges!
Winning creates losers! Fear of being a loser leads to pain, pain leads to suffering, suffering leads anger, anger leads to violence, violence leads to bitterness… etc. etc.            

Close enough  ---  ‘Yoda’