Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>A recurring theme in Milton’s Paradise Lost is the value of a kind of censorship. On a first (and probably second and third) reading of the poem, one may find oneself resisting this theme and what seems to be its bizarre, unjustified paternalism at every turn. Yet after spending some time and thought on the philosophical themes at issue in the poem, it becomes clear (many times over) that there are all sorts of cases in which self-censorship in particular is very wise counsel, indeed. Many readers in the modern age, however, are rather susceptible to libido sciendi, and the lesson to be explored in this chapter is one that a modern audience tends to fiercely resist learning. Nevertheless, this chapter argues that some attempts to acquire knowledge (whether successful or not) and certain instances of knowledge gained (even if obtained in the least costly of ways—just for the asking, so to speak) can be problematic for a variety of aesthetic, moral, and religious reasons and can seriously endanger right action, virtue, happiness, and well-being.</jats:p>