The Nature Of A Genius

In my last update, we saw Nietzsche's insight on how the select few individuals who are unable to apply the repressional mechanisms as espoused by Zapffe, can utilize the energy from the pains of understanding all too well the tragic truths about human existence, into producing beautiful works of art, and in the process manage to keep psychological well being at a sane level.

Through these insights, it becomes clear that the more one is aware of the said terrible truths the more one is likely to experience the ecstatic and rapturous state of Rausch.

Being overly conscious then may have a direct relationship with one's creative abilities.

Across human history, it has long been known that many geniuses have struggled with pathological states.

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As Seneca stated:

no genius has existed without a touch of madness
Seneca

While Aristotle went ahead to claim that:

Those who have become eminent in philosophy, politics, poetry, and the arts have all had tendencies toward melancholia.
Aristotle

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In his book titled Origin Of Genius psychologist Dean Keith Simonton has summarised numerous studies which establish indeed that there is a connection between psychopathological states and creativity.

Some of the pathological states experienced by the many geniuses could be as a result of the failure of repressional mechanisms outlined by Zapffe to limit their consciousness, as a result, they are all too aware of the tragic and all too painful truths of our existence in this world.

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This in a way, would provide an explanation as to why the lives of many geniuses have constituted periods of extreme states of melancholy, suffering, and inactivity which is then followed by a rapturous and super productive state of creativity, which is Rausch, the individual going ahead to produce works of art beyond mere mortals imagination capabilities.

Nietzsche, who is one such genius, spent much of his life in states of extreme suffering, writing:

I am more a battlefield than a man.
Nietzsche

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Due to his weak disposition, Nietzsche went through states of extreme physical suffering, as well as experiencing extreme migraines. He also experienced emotional and psychological pains, as a result of his self-imposed solitude, and the complete lack of recognition among his peers.

Above all he suffered greatly from spending too much time:

Gazing into the horrors of night.

And yet, the peaks which he reached, are known by only but a select few. Quoting his writing in the Selected Letters Of Friedrich Nietzsche

The intensities of my feeling make me shudder and laugh; several times I could not leave the room for the ridiculous reason that my eyes were inflamed – from what? Each time, I had wept too much on my previous day’s walk, not sentimental tears but tears of joy; I sang and talked nonsense, filled with a glimpse of things which put me in advance of all other men.
Selected Letters of Friedrich Nietzsche

In conclusion, maybe the majority of us, by utilizing repressional mechanisms to protect ourselves be it consciously or unconsciously from the tragic truths, unfortunately, end up confining ourselves to but a narrow range of experiences.

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In this narrow range of experiences, what we fail to realize is that the rapturous state of Rausch, is rarely, if ever experienced. Meaning many will end up leading a life never experiencing the great stimulus to life.

It seems by protecting oneself from the said horrors of the night, one ends up protecting themselves from ever experiencing life more fully, joyfully, and deeply.

Quoting the words of Miguel de Unamuno in his writing Tragic Sense of Life:

And the supreme beauty is that of tragedy. The consciousness that everything passes away, that we ourselves pass away, and that everything that is ours and everything that environs us passes away, fills us with anguish, and this anguish itself reveals to us the consolation of that which does not pass away, of the eternal, of the beautiful.
Miguel de Unamuno

There goes some food for thought.

Do we really experience life to the fullest, or do we only live in an illusion thinking that we really do but miss out on it all?

A question I am yet to get an answer for...

Anyway,

See y'all in my next update!

Peace!


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@peeterx