Why shouldn't Java enum literals be able to have generic type parameters?

Question

Java enums are great. So are generics. Of course we all know the limitations of the latter because of type erasure. But there is one thing I don\'t understand, Why can\'t I

Answer 1

This is now being discussed as of JEP-301 Enhanced Enums. The example given in the JEP is, which is precisely what I was looking for:

enum Argument { // declares generic enum
   STRING(String.class), 
   INTEGER(Integer.class), ... ;

   Class clazz;

   Argument(Class clazz) { this.clazz = clazz; }

   Class getClazz() { return clazz; }
}

Class cs = Argument.STRING.getClazz(); //uses sharper typing of enum constant

Unfortunately, the JEP is still struggling with significant issues: http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/amber-spec-experts/2017-May/000041.html