Insanity is madness, it means extremely foolish behaviour or a state of wild or chaotic activity. A man is considered foolish when he makes some reckless decisions. The decisions that normal people wouldn’t make, like setting their house on fire. This may also occur due to mental illness or some other disease of the mind. But insanity in groups and parties is mainly due to the pursuit of that particular group and if compared to the insanity of an individual in terms of damage caused then it is the insanity in groups and parties that has caused much more damage than individuals.
As Henry Miller says:
“Madness is tonic and invigorating. It makes the sane saner. The only ones who are unable to profit by it are the insane.”
Corruption as the Leading Cause of Insanity:
We are always describing things as insane, but does insane actually mean to be insane? Technically insanity isn’t a mental term it is a legal one. It refers to one’s ability to determine right from wrong when they have committed a crime.
Insanity demonstrated by groups, parties and nations have caused more damage to humanity then anyone has individually. There has been no control over the destruction unleashed by groups and nations. In the time we live in, Power makes one corrupt and the more power one has the more corrupt he is bound to become. Hence corruption has made minor groups and nations powerless. While making the major groups and nations ridiculously powerful.
Society’s role in Insanity:
With the passage of time and the arising of civilization man has steadily become more stable than he ever was in the past. In order to keep in check the stability of an individual, society formed formal and informal education institutions, to teach individuals morals and ethics. But it is pointless in case of groups, parties and nations. They don’t listen to the opinion of others. Their extremist views cause damage, not only on themselves but on the innocent citizens as well. The decisions that a group makes are only of benefit to themselves, they go insane with their ideologies. Not bothering to analyse how much loss they would have to face.
Friedrich Nietzsche explains insanity in the following words:
“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music”.
Example of Insanity in Groups:
To further explain the case of insanity in groups, parties and nations, let us take an example of a man. This man was guilty of stealing someone else’s car, so the group of people present go insane and end up burning the man alive. No one from the crowd can speak up for the fear of being accused a traitor and staining their own reputation. Thus this “Rule” is made. Against which no one could do anything. That is why insanity in groups, parties and nations is said to be a rule.
More Innovation, More Insanity:
It was thought that with the passage of time and the increase in educated individuals and introduction of new and improved scientific technology, the level of insanity might decrease. But it was the other way around. Due to the aggressive and egoistic personalities of man, he is still insane. Though technology was supposed to “help” the people, instead when it came in the hands of nations then it ultimately lead to destruction. For example the nuclear explosion in Japan (Hiroshima and Nagasaki) by the United States of America. This is a great example of insanity in nations, as they did not even stop to consider the many lives they were about to take, all the greed, selfishness and obsession for power they had drove them mad. They were bound to go insane.
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Individuals Saner then Groups:
On the other hand if an individual is observed, then his level of insanity compared to the level of insanity of groups, parties and nations is only a mere fraction. Individuals are rather considered more stable and sane then any group, party or nation.
According to Guillermo Del Toro, who wisely said:
“Awareness of insanity does not make one any less insane. Awareness of drowning does not make one any less of a drowning person—it only adds the burden of panic”.