"Reality is the final arbiter, not human preference or intellectual satisfaction."

Your instinct about the fruit as narrative device is sharp - especially noting that the best fruits require work and are naturally "forbidden" by height/access. That's a compelling parallel to what agriculture demands.

"The heavens declare... Day after day they pour forth speech" This wasn't metaphorical spiritualizing—this was methodological instruction: Study what exists. Observe patterns. Extract principles.