>> From: Brian Siano <siano at mail.med.upenn.edu>
>
>> I recall our conversation much differently. You've objected to the
>> use of the term "lunatic" or "insane" to Stalin. Your main arguments
>> were that a) he acquired considerable political power, which you
>> regard as proof positive of sanity, and b) he could pass simple tests
>> for social comportment (i.e., not chewing the rugs, ability to dress
>> himself, etc.) I've pointed out that these arguments are excessively
>> stringent (to the point where even obviously crazy people would be
>> judged "not insane") and fallacious (acquisition of power as a mark
>> of rationality).
>
>
> Not at all. I adduced his ability to make it to the top of power
> against intelligent, well-informed and presumably rational people as
> evidence of rationality. Presumably, if Stalin were a raving nutcase,
> somebody in the Party would have noticed.
In other words, Powerful People Cannot Be Insane.
(Chances are, the ones who noticed wound up dead, or in a Gulag-- diagnosed as insane.)