More Perfect Humans

My favorite part of the Ibn Arabi reading was the section on humans versus angel because it challenged my notion of what it means to be human. I have always believed an angel to be a perfect divine sort of being who holds a close and special relationship to God. Consequently, my train of thought would place angels above humans. This hierarchy would give humans something to strive for in this life.
       While one might still desire to become an angel, ‘Arabi places humans above angels: “Ibn ‘Arabi makes explicit the implication throughout his homage to the complete human that the complete human is in fact more kamil than the deity because it exists on all levels, from the eternal to the mortal, from the spiritual to the elemental” (79). Humans are seen as “more kamil”, or perfect, since they are not bound to any one perspective. While angels are bound in (what I’m guessing to be) the “eternal” or the “spiritual” humans, or complete humans, do not have this problem. “Exist(ing) on all levels” points to the fact that humans are not bound to any one viewpoint and can constantly change their opinions and thoughts. I like this flexibility, but I always saw it as inferior to angels who had one, presumably correct, outlook. ‘Arabi shows just how positive it can be to not be bound to an idea.