What Is The Definition Of Insanity?

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Insanity is a medically obselote concept. Legally or in popular usage I think it's only possible to come up with an ostensive definition. Particularly examples, like the man who sincerely believes he is the Emperor of Antarctica, define insanity as best as we can.

I've been thinking, and I now thing the definition of insane is someone who holds an alternate reality to the mainstream concept of reality. One can only learn about the world through perception, so if someone else perceives something in a different way we cannot say that there reality is wrong, only...different.

Definition of insanity:

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Seems to be a common human trait.

Oh - they mean can you control the weather with your mind. Of course, given the equipment, one can seed clouds and sometimes trigger a rainstorm here rather than over there, where the clouds are heading. I don't think they would ding you any points for asking for clarification ... they are looking for evidence of delusions. Some people are convinced that they can move clouds around, summon rain, etc. Not sure if the Indian rain dances are from a cultural delusion, or a misunderstanding on our part.

"All the world old is queer save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer." Robert Owen.

I have neighbor that keeps calling me by the name of her husband whenever I walk by her house I wonder if she has early alzheimers?

Could be - or some other type of dementia. People can also get those symptoms from hardening of the arteries to the brain, alcoholism, or other metabolic conditions. It is sad and scary.

i suppose i should read all the posts before i post but i did read that someone has already defined the etymological roots of the word.
without reference to even that post .....

sanity is "cleanliness" . "sane" therefore means "clean"

so people who's minds are not sane, are people who's minds are not clean (which also means their minds are not clear).

people who are insane will believe things that are the result of distorted perceptions.
their perceptions are distorted by their dirty faculties, and if they believe their distorted percepts, then they are deluded.

delusions are false beliefs, and someone who believes those beliefs strongly will act with passion pertinent to those beliefs.

for example, if someone believes with all their existence that they are trapped in a burning building about to collapse, then they may hurt or even kill people in their effort to escape in their panic.

but they did not intend to hurt those people, so they can not be blamed in the same way as someone who hurts people for fun.

it is very charitable for humanity to excuse someone on the basis of their sanity (although the accused then goes to a secure "funny farm" which is probably pleasant but they can not escape)

if you have an unsound mind, then you can not be blamed entirely for your actions, but you must be nevertheless restrained from participating in free society. so a hospital is chosen for the sentence rather than a prison.

i have never thought about this before so i am probably wrong.