‘Man’ is often used in the same way as ‘mankind’ which is how I’ve usually seen the quote interpreted. Clearly the preposition ‘a’ makes a very big difference but it still makes sense.
Yes, which is why without the “a” doesn’t work. He wasn’t saying “A small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind” because that’s nonsensical.
He was saying he (a man) was literally taking a step with his leg, but it was a figuratively large step for the species because of where/how he was taking that step.
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 6 hours ago
It “works” in that we know what he meant, but it literally doesn’t work without the “a”.
Ziglin@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
‘Man’ is often used in the same way as ‘mankind’ which is how I’ve usually seen the quote interpreted. Clearly the preposition ‘a’ makes a very big difference but it still makes sense.
usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 2 hours ago
Yes, which is why without the “a” doesn’t work. He wasn’t saying “A small step for mankind, one giant leap for mankind” because that’s nonsensical.
He was saying he (a man) was literally taking a step with his leg, but it was a figuratively large step for the species because of where/how he was taking that step.
athatet@lemmy.zip 1 hour ago
Yeah that’s why DIDN’T fucking say mankind TWICE. Fuckin chill!