Tilting at Counter-Enlightenment Windmills

This essay is a direct response to Jeremy Caradonna’s article in which he attacks the concept of “Counter-Enlightenment.” I argue that most of his criticisms of the idea misfire, either because they don’t hit the target or they hit the wrong target. While the concept of a “Counter-Enlightenment” is not perfect (no concepts are), Caradonna’s criticism are mostly based on his misunderstanding and/or misrepresentation of it. For the most part, I contend, his Counter-Enlightenment is a straw man.