Quest for Knowledge in Milton’s Paradise Lost - How Much can Humans Kno

Quest for friendship in Miltons promised land deep in thought(p) - How Much can Humans Know? There ar more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy (Shakespeare II.i.166-67). So Hamlet tells Horatio when he marvels at the spectre of the ghost. Hamlet is telling his companion that science and natural philosophy can only account for so much. A point comes when humans cannot rationalize or prove authoritative events. In Paradise Lost , Raphael tells disco biscuit similar sentiments when raptus questions him on the nature of the universe in hold VIII. However, Raphael goes on to warn Adam not to ponder deeply things that he can never live fully. This type of curiosity and desire for learning only leads to sin. Yet, while Raphael is admonishment Adam not to think of these things, he himself speculates on the nature of the universe, place ideas in Adams mind he did not make before. These ideas concern the theorie s of Ptolemy, Copernicus, and Galileo, much in dispute in Miltons time. though Milton seems to advance the Ptolemaic theory of the universe in Paradise Lost , the debate over which system Milton truly believed in is not the well-nigh important aspect of Raphael and Adams discussion in go for VIII. Knowledge is the true topic. What and how much can humans sock? Knowledge is the cornerstone of Paradise Lost . Adam and Eve must not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Satan pinpoints Adam and Eves vulnerability in their ignorance of evil. Adam worries that he may seek knowledge that displeases God. Raphael praises Adams thirst for knowledge and warns him most obsessively seeking knowledge that is useless. Eve eats the fruit because she wants to know how ... ... the universe spends so much time circling the earth.3 In Book VIII of Paradise Lost, Raphael discusses the source of the moons light (140-58).4 And now / Adam led on, yet sinless, wit h desire to know (Paradise Lost VII.60-01). working CitedHughes, Merritt ed. John Milton Complete Pomes and Major Prose. New York Macmillan, 1957.Marjara, Harinder Singh. Contemplation of Created Things Science in Paradise Lost. Toronto University of Toronto Press, 1992.Milton, John. Paradise Lost ed. Alastair Fowler, Second Edition. London Longman, 1998.Nicolson, Majorie Hope. A Readers Guide to John Milton. Syracuse Syracuse University Press, 1998.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Cyrus Hoy. 2nd ed. New York Norton, 1992.Williamson, George. ed. Milton established Essays and Critical Asides. Cleveland Case Western Reserve Univ. Press, 1970.