[spinestein]

An interpretation which I prefer is that when Adam (which literally translated means "people" or "men") ate from the tree, he was representing humanity becoming homo sapiens (man, the wise) from his less intelligent ancestors by eating the fruit of knowledge.

Before man evolved the capacity for the sophisticated reasoning that we possess today, we were not able to distinguish right from wrong or good deeds from bad. After acquiring this we also acquire the capacity to sin, the consequences of such sin and also the knowledge of our own mortality. I think the metaphor here is obvious and appropriate.

[BackInBlack]

That's an excellent interpretation I hadn't heard before. Thank you!

[Theo]

Before man evolved the capacity for the sophisticated reasoning that we possess today, we were not able to distinguish right from wrong or good deeds from bad

Why do people take their dogs to obedience school? If you've ever had a dog, you'd know that they sometimes reveal that they know right from wrong. Not in an anthropomorphic way, but in a real way. Other creatures know right and wrong. It is not unique to homosapiens.