Reflection on Madness & Civilization (History of Madness)

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Reflection on the M & C Video
In madness and civilization, Foucault explores the changing and complex relationship between madness/unreason and reason/logic. The video deconstructs the theme of madness and unreason by evaluating their interpretations beginning in the renaissance period, through the classical age or age of reason, and up to the modern era. Notably, during the renaissance period, unreason was perceived as dazzling or confusing as the ships of fools transported mad from the cities in Europe. On the other hand, in the classical period of the age of reason, madness is viewed as new knowledge of wisdom, whereby it is reduced to a science. In contrast, at the beginning of the modern era, madness turns into a mental disorder controlled by moral norms. Generally, Foucault shows that madness is an unnatural phenomenon, exemplifies some form of rationality, and is controlled or depends on the society in which it exists.
It is prudent to view madness as an unnatural phenomenon rather than an inborn trait. The current view regarding madness is that it is natural and a genetic trait that individuals cannot change. However, the video illustrates during the renaissance period, "madness was the underside of humankind, and it magnified dreams, priorities, dreams, illusions, and imaginations gone wild" (Foucault). The fact that madness represents dreams, illusions, and imaginations that an individual cannot easily control shows that madness is not genetic but developed later in life. Besides, during the renaissance, although it may be through imagination, the video tells that ships of fools transported mad from the city, which shows that mad people do not always act foolish. Therefore, madness is an unnatural phenomenon and not genetic.
On the other hand, although in most cases, madness behavior is perceived as illogic, it exemplifies some form of reasoning. As Foucault illustrates, madness was reduced to science during the age of reason...