Interesting.

The only thing of this story I've often pondered is this, if the fruit of an apple tree is an apple, then surely the fruit of the tree of knowledge would not be fruit, but would be knowledge.

A tree as a metaphor perhaps.

But anyway, to eat of the tree of knowledge would be a bit like 'here's a whole lot of information, don't read any of it'.

Perhaps the tree of knowledge was a terminal giving computer access in the middle of the holodeck program, and Adam accessed the computer and became aware of his situation.

Perhaps this is all a simulation and becoming aware of the simulation was the crime.

I see it all as fiction so I figured I'd add some interpretation.

The fruit of the tree of knowledge is knowledge.

Great article. I don't know enough to comment on the content, but I enjoyed the position it took that these stories were written by many at various times quite a while ago, and as such they don't all match.

Cheers.