No one goes there anymore; it's too crowded
Let's think together for a minute. Let's think about the phrase "most eligible". To make matters easier, let's think about it in the longer phrase "most eligible bachelor". Now—clearly—every bachelor is eligible; that's what being a bachelor is (Quine be damned). So what might make a bachelor most eligible? Eligibility is, of course, the ability to be chosen ("eligible" and "elect" both coming from eligo, to pick or choose). The most choosable bachelor, then. Who might that be? Not, surely, some handsome, charming millionaire, since choice aims at success, and many will want to choose such a person, and the choosing of a bachelor is a zero-sum affair. The most eligible bachelor is, accordingly, the bachelor least worthy of being chosen. But eligibility is itself a factor of determining worthiness of choice: thus "most eligible" is an inherently unstable category.
Comments
on 2007-06-06 22:43:06.0, bitchphd commented:
Go ahead and believe what makes you happy, Ben.
and, further, on 2007-06-07 7:20:24.0, My Alter Ego commented:
How many eligible bachelors does it take to form a more perfect union?
and, further, on 2007-06-07 8:35:28.0, arthegall commented:
I think you've got your parentheses wrong. It's not the ((most eligible) bachelor), it's the (most (eligible bachelor)).
and, further, on 2007-06-07 9:04:37.0, ben wolfson commented:
I don't think that makes a difference, arthegall.
and, further, on 2007-06-07 20:23:28.0, bitchphd commented:
It doesn't make a difference? What kind of pedant are you?