Pros And Cons Of Enlightenment

Enlightenment is appealing for all the positive connotations it has. When we think of enlightenment, what comes to mind is the image of a sage or monk. Furthermore, we also believe these individuals are without faults; that they have discovered a certain existentialism that enables them to achieve true happiness. However, we don’t hear often the negative side effects of enlightenment. Two avid thinkers, Plato and Frederick Douglass, are one of the few who do highlight negative aspects of enlightenment that many do not consider. Such as, the self loathing it may cause or the social divisions it may give rise to. Although at the same time, one can also interpret the benefits of enlightenment, as Plato and Douglass leave their arguments open ended for the reader. Thus when reconciling the byproducts of enlightenment, good or bad, we must remember that this is carried out by opinion, albeit, with key evidence and purposeful reasoning, a general consensus can be
As mentioned previously, the negative connotations of enlightenment aren’t as proliferated as their positive counterparts, and that in part can make it hard for one to realize them at first glance, in the works of Plato and Douglass respectively. The major cost of enlightenment that both Plato and Douglass refer to are based on emotion and perception. For Douglass, learning to read and write, which in this case is a form of enlightenment, caused him to have no hope. In his own words: “As I writhed under it, I would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing… It had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy. It opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out” (193). Enlightenment made him more aware of who he is, but it also made him feel like he had no power to change his