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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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 Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:23 am Post subject: Intelligence Bordering on Insanity |
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| As my wife and I were watching Iron Chef tonight, she said that one of the frequent tasters, a writer, recently committed suicide. Then she said dismissively, "atama ga yosugi" (he was too intelligent). I knew where that was going, but asked her to explain. She said it was a common Japanese belief that people who are intelligent past a certain point are close to insanity (not just excentricity). She wasn't sure how to explain it more deeply, but I think it has to do with being overwhelmed by one's own constant high-level intake and analysis of things. This isn't a completely foreign concept to the West, but I can see how the Japanese probably see it as closer to the rule than to the exception (then again, the Japanese often don't distinguish between danger and the potential for danger). Anyway, I just wanted to bounce this atama-ga-yosugi thing off the forum. What are your observations on the Japanese take on this, and your own ideas? |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:01 am Post subject: |
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Being "too intelligent" may have such demerits. Look at the eccentricities of Richard Feynmann and the mental illness of John Forbes Nash (from the movie Beautiful Mind). However, one does not have to be extremely intelligent to be insane, nor does one have to be smart or insane to commit suicide.
All I am reminded of beyond this is the expression, there's a fine line between genius and madness. |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 7:12 am Post subject: |
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yawn... translation couldn't be simpler.
I mean doesn't the west have a patent on the Tortured Genius? |
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Billy Chaka
Joined: 20 Oct 2003
Posts: 77
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| 6810 wrote: |
| yawn... translation couldn't be simpler. |
But I'm sure the sentiment between the Western and Japanese takes are different. I realize it was only my wife who said it, but I can easily see this coming from many of the Japanese I've known. Immediately assuming intelligence was the cause of the writer's suicide comments on the Japanese having a cynical view of above-average intelligence. I've heard this is the case, but the dismissive atama ga yosugi adds a texture that I think is interesting. |
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