Reference no: EM133215057

When Raphael comes to earth in Book 5 of John Milton's Paradise Lost (try to read the whole chapter) he explains to Adam the difference between human knowledge, which is attained through discourse (speech, talking), and angelic knowledge, which is attained through intuition. The angel Raphael says that the two types of knowledge differ "but in degree, of kind the same," suggesting that if humans remain obedient (versus seeking too much rational-scientific knowledge) they will eventually attain intuitive knowledge. Raphael is eager to explain to Adam the story of the war in Heaven and the creation of Earth, but he stops when Adam asks about the nature of the universe. He tells Adam, "Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid, /Leave them to God above, him serve and feare." At this point in Book 5 Milton is suggesting that the goal of knowledge is NOT to know everything in the universe, but to increase our "appreciation of God's goodness" and ultimately increase our faith, which is comparable to "intuition."

For this essays: identify two parts of Book 5 which you believe address the issue of knowledge and /or knowing something, and tell me if you think Milton is for or against the forms of knowledge and or knowing something that you found.