The Abyss Above

Exploring the intersection of poetic madness and philosophy, Silke-Maria Weineck examines the mad poet as a pivotal figure in the historical conflict between these two realms. By analyzing texts from antiquity to modernity, she reveals how art's association with irrationality has evolved. Weineck argues that the philosophy of madness grants a unique privilege to the mad, challenging the Western ideal of reason and highlighting the tension between the systematic nature of philosophy and the spontaneous essence of poetry.