"I think the thing to remember, though, the next time you hear someone who is really certain that he is on the side of the angels, is that the idea of angels was created by human beings, who are famous for being frequently untrustworthy and occasional"
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Jon Carroll's quote touches on the styles of certainty, morality, and the human condition. At its core, the declaration motivates skepticism towards individuals who declare outright moral authority or righteousness. The phrase "on the side of the angels" typically suggests alignment with goodness or moral supremacy. Nevertheless, Carroll challenges this concept by advising us that the idea of angels-- beings representing supreme good-- originated from humans, who are inherently flawed.
People, by nature, are "regularly untrustworthy and occasional", recommending that they are irregular, fallible, and vulnerable to predisposition. By pointing this out, Carroll is highlighting the prospective dangers in blindly following those who assert they're on a path of righteousness without questioning their motives, reliability, or the strength of their beliefs. If such perfects were conceptualized by creatures with a history of deceit and mistake, it links the potential distortion of these perfects for personal gain or misdirected beliefs.
Carroll's message can be viewed as a care versus dogmatism-- the unyielding adherence to beliefs as absolute truths without enabling space for doubt or introspection. By prompting us to keep in mind the human origins of these ideals, he discreetly promotes humility and critical thinking. The human tendency to err and deceive methods that no single person or organization holds the monopoly on reality or goodness. For that reason, the onus is on us to scrutinize these claims critically before accepting them.
In a more comprehensive social context, this quote can work as a critique of leaders, ideologies, or organizations that present themselves as ethically infallible. It is a suggestion to approach such figures with a critical mind and to preserve an awareness of human fallibility. The quote welcomes a more nuanced understanding of morality that acknowledges the imperfections and complexities intrinsic in human perspectives.
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