Sanity is (not) Statistical.

[Homers_child]

I just finished 1984 a couple of days ago and I'm still quite confused by what Winston meant by that statement. Before he got re-programmed he said "sanity is not statistical' and then afterwards he said it is. What did he mean by that?

[The Atheist]

I just finished 1984 a couple of days ago and I'm still quite confused by what Winston meant by that statement. Before he got re-programmed he said "sanity is not statistical' and then afterwards he said it is. What did he mean by that?

He means that even if everyone else is considered "sane" he is not necessarily insane because he thinks differently; i.e. the majority does not decide sanity.

He is then taught that sanity is conforming - acting like the majority.

The first premise, of course, is the correct one.

[Homers_child]

Oh okay, thank you for answering. It definitely makes sense now. Not sure why I couldn't figure that out but now I get it. :p

[bazarov]

Orwell is a tricky one, you will use to that.