Why Did Some Philosophers Turned Mad?

[A way to Actualize]

I read in a textbook about some philosophers that turned mad in their later years. What would be the reason? Are they lost in thought? Did they discover that life is meaningless and their ego couldn't handle it? Were they stressed too much?

If anyone some knowlegde about it (especially people on this forum who know about enlightenment), leave a comment.

[99th_monkey]

I'd question definitions of "mad". I've been known to go a little "crazy" every once in a while. You lose grounding as you're world crumbles so. Its understandable when that would "happen"

[Henri]

In a way you can consider a philosopher a jnani-yogi.

A jnani-yogi uses the methods of the intellect to achieve knowledge about the deeper aspects of surpreme reality. This he does by the neti, neti way what means not this, not that... Finally you end up with nothing, the thinking stops, the consciousness went back to the lila-point, back in itself. With the right intentions in the heart the consciousness transcends from there and knowledge will flow. The yogi knows that, he`s looking for that.

But when one does that out of just a odd wanting of relative knowledge as the philosopher does, he can end up there as well, comparable with the `dark night of the soul`. He will not have the right intentions and coming out of it is eventually only granted by bliss or good luck if you want. Not able to get out you will become insane. Nietszche is a famous example, God was really dead for him...

On the other hand the famous Schopenhauer always said he was saved by the knowledge of the Upanishads, thus saved by his heart. 

[A way to Actualize]

On 21-2-2016 at 3:26 PM, Henri said:

In a way you can consider a philosopher a jnani-yogi.

A jnani-yogi uses the methods of the intellect to achieve knowledge about the deeper aspects of surpreme reality. This he does by the neti, neti way what means not this, not that... Finally you end up with nothing, the thinking stops, the consciousness went back to the lila-point, back in itself. With the right intentions in the heart the consciousness transcends from there and knowledge will flow. The yogi knows that, he`s looking for that.

But when one does that out of just a odd wanting of relative knowledge as the philosopher does, he can end up there as well, comparable with the `dark night of the soul`. He will not have the right intentions and coming out of it is eventually only granted by bliss or good luck if you want. Not able to get out you will become insane. Nietszche is a famous example, God was really dead for him...

On the other hand the famous Schopenhauer always said he was saved by the knowledge of the Upanishads, thus saved by his heart. 

A real high queality post. Love your answer.

[Pallero]

Because the thinking never stops and there is no truth. And because wine, you know.