From: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Date: Sun Nov 14 2004 - 21:43:02 MST
Damien Broderick wrote:
>
>>
>>> from Paradise Regained:
>>>
>>> The intelligent among them and the wise Are few, and glory scarce
>>> of few is raised.
>>
>> Having pointed out this problem, how did Milton intend to fix it?
>
> These are sentiments he placed in the mouth of Jesus, responding to
> gibes by Satan who'd offered him (as usual) the praise of the
> multitude and the glory of empire. Get over yourself, said Jesus. We
> got better motives, my man.
>
> Encouragement, that's what I take from it. :)
If this fictional character acts from better motives than the demands
for worship made by children's childish deities, let him show it without
insulting the multitudes in the course of disclaiming his need for their
approval. Sour grapes, that's what I hear.
- Eliezer
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