The Danger of Thinking

For me, one of the most meaningful points made in chapter 17 is Arendt's assertion that "there are no dangerous thoughts; thinking itself is dangerous" (176). Arendt declares this in the context of relegating nihilism and other like theories obtained by reversing old values to a lesser and more dangerous plane of thought. However, it is applicable to so much more. History has dozens (probably hundreds, if not more) instances of people or races being denied education. As an example, slaves were kept illiterate and it was in some places illegal to teach them to read. The fact is that learning leads to thinking and thinking leads to action, which is exactly what slaveowners didn't want. The thought process can be a formidable weapon and it is for this reason that Arendt describes it as dangerous.