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‘Man’ is often used in the same way as ‘mankind’

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.

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athatet@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
Yeah that’s why DIDN’T fucking say mankind TWICE. Fuckin chill!

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- wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
  It would be redundant and self-contradictory without the “a.” That’s why it doesn’t make sense without it.
  
  You chill.
  
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  - Ziglin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    I would still leave that up to interpretation. I think it can make sense however I am having trouble putting my interpretation into words.
    
    Two alternative redemptions of the ‘a’ not being present: It could be viewed as an ellipsis, it does sound slightly more pleasant to me without.
    
    And it would also just be really silly if the first statement said upon stepping onto a celestial body no human has set foot on before is a self contradictory statement is
    
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  - athatet@lemmy.zip ⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago
    But also everyone knows what he meant so it doesn’t really matter either way 🤷🏻
    
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