Reason in Seventeenth-Century Millenarian England: The Example of John Milton’s Paradise Lost

Milton’s England experiences military conflict, sociopolitical change, religious reform, and scientific progress. Seeking stability in a world of uncertainty, substantial part seventeenth-century English literature expresses millennial expectations, faith the birth new better humanity. Paradise Lost is millenarian work that advocates humanity’s perfection through proper use reason. The latter has as prerequisite man’s self-knowledge—within philosophical context—and union with God, Who supreme reason (Logos), within context. Specifically, this article discusses definition human its implications for perception reality/truth, examination specific imageries reflecting four different levels hierarchical order: lowest/first level, low/second high/third highest/fourth level. Imageries sterility, erotic pervasion, ugliness, restrainment, concealment, sorrow, power relationships mirror first second levels. Human corrupt inadequate to perceive reality because it based on physical senses (natural reason). In contrast, fertility, innocence, beauty, excess, revelation, bliss, love reflect third fourth levels, incorporates creative imagination beyond endow humanity deep comprehensive understanding reality. discussion redemptive function mainly built Christian philosophy.