Sane?
Here's another repeat from journalspace, but this time it's alittle different, so hope you enjoy!
Sane?
Aug. 9th, 2004
Sanity and Madness
Is madness- sanity’s evil twin? Sane and mad, they seem like two obviously, diametrically apposed terms. In fact in most dictionaries they are listed as antonyms of each other. Sanity and madness what could be more different? Are there any two words or concepts that could be any more at odds? I would argue there are. In common definition, they are quoted as opposites, that is to say in The AHD Fourth edition mad is defined as 1. Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane or 2. Excited beyond self-control… as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred. Sane is defined as 1. Being in a healthy condition; not deranged; acting rationally; -- said of the mind. As well as mentally sound or reasonable, derived from the Latin word for healthy.
It seems abundantly apparent when one consults the dictionary that these two words are quite different in meaning. However, as most people now know, dictionaries are far from the definitive answer to meaning and usage. My friend Jan Peterson (who also happens to have a PhD. in psychology) explained madness as ‘the state a person is in when they cannot or will not function in the real world’. Similarly sanity has been described to me by her as the state of being when a person is grounded, practical and realistic or living in ‘the real world’. By those definitions, it seems obvious there is a lot of room for interpretation and a great deal of potential overlapping in meaning. Just who decides what the ‘real world’ is? Is my reality better, more accurate or somehow superior to yours? I doubt it. Just as no word can have the same meaning for two people, reality and the perception thereof, is in my opinion almost entirely subjective.
These words sanity, and madness are used by society and individuals to describe a state of mental and emotional being for primarily other people; although we might use them to describe ourselves, much more often they are used, needed even to explain, and or perhaps justify the behavior of others. I think it’s completely insane to take twenty credits of class work in a given semester. But to that student who wants and or has to take those credits, I who am only taking twelve may very well be seen as mad.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable and sane to talk to a professional councilor to resolve personal problems, but I know several people who are vehemently opposed to the idea and believe that I or those like me are absolutely crazy to go, I mean you only see a therapist if you are crazy right? It’s a philosophy I understand, having once felt that way myself, but it’s also an erroneous assumption I was glad to shed.
I believe it’s total madness to spend $1200 on a new suit or designer dress. There are others though, who feel that it is not only sane and reasonable but also necessary. Who is right? Is there a right? I don’t know the answer, but I strongly suspect the truth lies somewhere between. What I believe, what I feel and think and want and need, is my reality. That is my truth and my sanity. Is that any less valid or real or true than what the person sitting next to me thinks, wants and feels? I certainly hope not.
Being sane, being mad, being happy, feeling morose. It’s all about perception and at least as importantly about choice. What do I choose to feel about myself today? And at what do I care what someone else thinks about that? These things are ascertions only we can make for ourselves and do every day of our lives. We must all ask ourselves often what it is we think, and just how we feel because I truly believe 'the unexamined life' is no life at all, but as to the absolute value of sanity and madness. I leave to you to decide.
Sane?
Aug. 9th, 2004
Sanity and Madness
Is madness- sanity’s evil twin? Sane and mad, they seem like two obviously, diametrically apposed terms. In fact in most dictionaries they are listed as antonyms of each other. Sanity and madness what could be more different? Are there any two words or concepts that could be any more at odds? I would argue there are. In common definition, they are quoted as opposites, that is to say in The AHD Fourth edition mad is defined as 1. Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane or 2. Excited beyond self-control… as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred. Sane is defined as 1. Being in a healthy condition; not deranged; acting rationally; -- said of the mind. As well as mentally sound or reasonable, derived from the Latin word for healthy.
It seems abundantly apparent when one consults the dictionary that these two words are quite different in meaning. However, as most people now know, dictionaries are far from the definitive answer to meaning and usage. My friend Jan Peterson (who also happens to have a PhD. in psychology) explained madness as ‘the state a person is in when they cannot or will not function in the real world’. Similarly sanity has been described to me by her as the state of being when a person is grounded, practical and realistic or living in ‘the real world’. By those definitions, it seems obvious there is a lot of room for interpretation and a great deal of potential overlapping in meaning. Just who decides what the ‘real world’ is? Is my reality better, more accurate or somehow superior to yours? I doubt it. Just as no word can have the same meaning for two people, reality and the perception thereof, is in my opinion almost entirely subjective.
These words sanity, and madness are used by society and individuals to describe a state of mental and emotional being for primarily other people; although we might use them to describe ourselves, much more often they are used, needed even to explain, and or perhaps justify the behavior of others. I think it’s completely insane to take twenty credits of class work in a given semester. But to that student who wants and or has to take those credits, I who am only taking twelve may very well be seen as mad.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable and sane to talk to a professional councilor to resolve personal problems, but I know several people who are vehemently opposed to the idea and believe that I or those like me are absolutely crazy to go, I mean you only see a therapist if you are crazy right? It’s a philosophy I understand, having once felt that way myself, but it’s also an erroneous assumption I was glad to shed.
I believe it’s total madness to spend $1200 on a new suit or designer dress. There are others though, who feel that it is not only sane and reasonable but also necessary. Who is right? Is there a right? I don’t know the answer, but I strongly suspect the truth lies somewhere between. What I believe, what I feel and think and want and need, is my reality. That is my truth and my sanity. Is that any less valid or real or true than what the person sitting next to me thinks, wants and feels? I certainly hope not.
Being sane, being mad, being happy, feeling morose. It’s all about perception and at least as importantly about choice. What do I choose to feel about myself today? And at what do I care what someone else thinks about that? These things are ascertions only we can make for ourselves and do every day of our lives. We must all ask ourselves often what it is we think, and just how we feel because I truly believe 'the unexamined life' is no life at all, but as to the absolute value of sanity and madness. I leave to you to decide.
posted by Deb Bluth at 10:49 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home