Abstract

What is the relationship between custom and madness? Are there only so many departures from customary thoughts or actions before which one is mad? I suspect this is so, and the suspicion converges to some extent with our psychiatric practice, which is really about reducing any deviation from normal and unadventurous behaviour. The suspicion is of interest to philosophers because, if true, each time an individual breaks with custom, this may seem rational by all standards - supported by reason and leading to valuable outcomes; however, when one examines the whole set, a line has been crossed: it is madness to have this many breaks.