I’m mad. You’re mad. We’re all mad. Or are we?

“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.

“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”

“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.

“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”

Alice didn’t think that proved it at all: however, she went on: “And how do you know that you’re mad?”

“To begin with,” said the Cat, “a dog’s not mad. You grant that?”

“I suppose so,” said Alice.

“Well, then,” the Cat went on, “you see a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it’s pleased. Now I growl when I’m pleased, and wag my tail when I’m angry. Therefore I’m mad.”

“I call it purring, not growling,” said Alice.

“Call it what you like,” said the Cat

The Cheshire Cat is explaining his logic regarding why he thinks he is mad by comparing himself to another animal – a dog. To him, all animals are, well, animals. Thus they all should be judged by the same standard. If a dog growls when it is angry and wags its tail while happy, then all animals should behave in the same way. However, as a cat, he does the opposite; therefore he must be mad, as he obviously does not conform to what he defines as normal behavior.

But clever little Alice responds by stating, “I call it purring, not growling.”

In essence, she is telling the cat that according to her belief system, his behavior is normal. This is because in her culture, dogs and cats are indeed animals, yet they are different; unique. They cannot be compared.

The Cheshire Cat, seeing things only from his point of view, answers tersely, “Call it what you like.”

This is not surprising as within each society or culture, each member has constructed a definition based upon his or her own particular and personal reality.  Not only that, it eventually becomes a standard that they apply to themselves and to others.

In my opinion, the notion of madness is not a concrete concept, but a subjective perception. The exchange between the Cheshire Cat and Alice demonstrates that madness is a judgment derived from one’s own understanding, not anyone else’s.

So if I am indeed mad, then it is a madness of my own making; defined by my own beliefs of what I perceive madness to be.

Or is it?

Is the definition I use to make this determination my own, or one I have taken from the society in which I live? If I told you I were mad, what would you think? What is madness to you? I doubt your perception equals mine. So why does it matter? Why should I care what anyone thinks?

Especially when it comes to deciding whether or not I am a sane and sound member of society; that how I act or think should be judged by standards and morals upon which no one can agree; that what I say or do should be held accountable to what someone else thinks is right; that I should accept your derision of me based on a subjective perception rather than a concrete concept.

Why should I think myself ‘mad’ when I cannot conform to a belief system that is not my own nor anyone can clearly define.

I don’t think I should.

Do you?