If it weren't for the plague, society would be a very different place; who knows, maybe feudalism still existed today. Likewise, thinking may not have changed and society may still believe in theocracies where the Church would have ultimate power over the people. Since the plague happened, an alternative outcome is something you don't have to worry about. Making the Plague the reason why society, in general, is the way it is today. Of course, the plague was one of the greatest tragedies to happen to Western society and, at the same time, it was one of the greatest turning points. The plague allowed Europe to get to where it is today and make Western society the major power that it is