Curiosity killed the... Astronomer? // Justin Johnson

             It’s clear very early on in Paradise Lost that one of man’s greatest desires is simply to acquire knowledge. That concept shouldn’t be foreign to Honors English students in the information age, and here it is presented as man’s greatest weakness. This conclusion makes at least some deal of general sense (considering the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” literally has the word “knowledge” in its name) and I think we can see a lot more of Milton’s Tertullian influence in this sentiment. However, we see Milton use some weird examples and draw some strange conclusions here to back up his points.

            Adam desires to coax more information on creation from Raphael, more specifically on the heavens and how the heavenly bodies interact, but Raphael almost admonishes him for seeking the answers to such questions. Some things, Raphael posits, are not meant to be known by man and should simply be left a mystery for God’s knowledge alone. In his younger years Milton paid a visit to Galileo Galilei, whose illegitimate son he had previously befriended, and I can see how the influence of that fascinating meeting of scholarly worlds is directly present in this conversation. The Geocentrism vs Heliocentrism debate would’ve been a pretty recent memory for Milton’s audience, and to Milton it serves as his prime example of how focus on the finer details of creation and our obsession with knowledge can serve as a hinderance to us as humans.

            While I definitely see the merits of his points, as a current tertiary education student I’m afraid I fundamentally disagree with Milton’s conclusions on this point. While I do concede that people’s obsession with knowledge often leads them astray or causes them to miss the forest for the trees, I feel that knowledge and the seeking of it is at a base level a wonderful thing. There are some things God simply does not give us the means to know or understand, but I think that scientific study and philosophical debate are part of the intellect God has given us, and Romans 1:20 tells us that the study of God’s creation points toward him, not away from him. 

 

Side Note:  I can’t just ignore the fact that Milton’s portrayals of philosophy and the seeking of knowledge just reek of hypocrisy considering he was a VERY educated man who had spent much of his life in the pursuit of knowledge. Maybe that’s the part of himself he feared the most

Comments

  1. Emory CooperSeptember 21, 2021 at 1:56 AM

    Justin, I find this a very informative post. I had heard that Milton had met Galileo, but I had no idea how they had gotten to know each other. I didn't really think about the "man wants knowledge" theme, either, but it makes sense. The controversy over the pursuit of knowledge reminds me of what "the Preacher" says in Ecclesiastes. If I am correct, he says that all is vanity and vexation of spirit, but than one should still follow after one's pursuits, such as obtaining wisdom, with all of one's might with joy in the fear of God. So knowledge for knowledge's sake is definitely unprofitable, but nothing is ultimately unprofitable that is sought after for God's glory.

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  2. Micah PowersSeptember 21, 2021 at 8:59 AM

    Hear me out I may be wrong but Milton's opinions may have not be hypocritical but based in regret. So often within todays context we pull the "well you did it so why can't I do it" which is very childish when you consider it. We can be so quick to say oh he's a hypocrite without the realization of maybe he is telling us, "This was a mistake and while me telling you such doesn't well reflect my past actions it should reflect my future." hypocrisy is when a person tellings someone not to do something as they continue to do it themselves. Sorry to spaz on you there but I get very weary of the overuse of people calling others hypocrites. - Micah Powers

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  3. Justin JSeptember 21, 2021 at 9:21 AM

    I commented on Emma Dalgety and Bug's posts

    ReplyDelete

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