Is perfection an ideal or a possibility?

Me and a friend were talking about this yesterday and I wanted some of your responses to this question. In regards to all things, is perfection something that can be attained or something that you simply strive for in order for it to become closer to your ideal? He was arguing that if you see something as perfect, then it has achieved perfection. Saying that its cons can be pluses if you see it one way. I was arguing that in no way was something ever to be possibly perfect, as it's something that you hope to be in order to improve and become better better. What do you guys think about this?

Let's start with the important part; defining perfection. If the definition is not ambiguous then it's easy to check whether it's attainable.

Btw, I have no precise definition of it myself. Words like 'better' 'greater' etc are too subjective for me.

I think perfection is just an ideal humanity made to describe eithr upper class or the ideal human being. In truth, there is no such thing as perfection, because that would then mean that the object cannot be improved. Everything in this world, day by day, always has the potential to improve beyond what it was before. When someone says that something is perfect, then that must mean that thing cannot become better, become stronger, or become smarter. Use evolution as an example; When a creature is a perfect hunter, it can still become bettr in time, thus, it is not perfect.

For me its both.
1 the concept of something to strive towards.
2. it can be achived if you are content with less, for example a small bungalow with a wife and secure job can be perfection for some.

I faintly remember talking about this is a philosophy class a couple of years ago. My memory is a little fuzzy, but we were talking about Plato and him saying something about how a perfect form exists, somehow. The example used was a circle - we can all imagine a perfect circle, but could any of us draw one? Even if you use an instrument, is that really perfect?

I think perfection is an ideal and that nothing can ever really be perfect, but when I say that, I'm thinking about art. How could a person write the "perfect" novel, for example? Or make the "perfect" movie? Forget the fact that opinions of people can always differ; quite simply, there is no ceiling to art, no limit.

But I guess if you define the parameters enough, it is possible to have something that is perfect according to the demand. Like, if you said wanted to create a bookshelf that could hold a certain number of books or a certain amount of weight, then you could do that. But I suppose that wouldn't be true perfection, the form from which all imitators are borne. But what would the perfect form of a bookshelf even look like?

Sorry, but I think I just confused the issue with that last paragraph, lol

Humans cannot be contended, once they reach the peek of their satisfaction/perfection they will still look for more. So pretty much, it's ideal.

Really agree with you here of what you said. It's really interesting, and really true. Thanks for the input everyone. Keepem coming!

I think the only way something can be perfect is if it was "god". If there's a superior form of something, how can the inferior form be perfect? We strive to improve everything as best as we can, but all we will obtain is something that's "maxed out" in possible improvement. I don't think striving for the maximum improvement is the same as striving for perfection, because I don't think perfection is obtainable.

I don't believe humans are perfect; I don't think an imperfect being can create something perfect

Perfection does no take reality into account. Nor the laws of earth, truths of life, capabilities of humanity, etc...

Moments can me perfect, but not a lifetime~

Perfection is a paradox.

It's a subjective means yet it's definition is objective.

Basically, wtf is this shit herp derpy derp.

Perfection is what humans strive for, it's the goal in life, if you're perfect you win. However no human can be prefect so really we are just chasing the wind, but that is how humans evolve and society advances, so ultimately, the strive for perfection is more important then the actually goal of perfection.

Practice does not make perfect. Practice only makes better.

Perfection is based on perception. What may be perfect in the eyes of one may not be perfect in the eyes of another. However there are physical objects that have the reached the level of perfection/completion/pureness by definition.

Ah, that's so true. The desire to become perfect is ultimately more important, because it is indeed a paradox, like what someone said before.





Omfg, this quote is so fucking good, bravo to you sir. +1




That is also very correct if I think about it. Physical objects that reached perfection/completion/pureness? May I ask about some examples?

From the reliable source Wikipedia, Perfection is, broadly, a state of completeness and flawlessness. From MrShadows, "the strive for perfection is more important" than the goal, and from Sprite that it "is based on perception" are excellent ideas. We can only improve, and if we think something is perfect, it is because we cannot yet imagine how it can be better. If the goal is perfection then the path is to progress. The next idea. A better life. A new way to perceive something. These are all just around the corner for, if not us, someone else to "take up the torch" and continue to strive.

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This is a trekky example, so maybe you wont know it... but the Borg in the series is a mainstay evil that exists in the series. A collective of people that are with one mind, striving for technological greatness or superiority. Perception. Of course killing whole species to add to their collective is nothing to be proud about, but in their perception it is necessary for perfection. The perfect race,... sound familiar. I know there are many positive examples of the goal of perfection, so I wanted to put out there some obvious negative ones too. One person's perception of perfection can be completely different from someone elses. People are flawed by nature, so trying to create perfection is not possible.

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... So this is something I definitely agree with because if we are flawed, then so is our perception. I think you have to be all-knowing to create perfection.

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Haha. So maybe our perception of perfection is flawed. A paradox.

Perfection is as someone pointed out - paradox - Nothing is perfect yet we strife for it, We strife for perfection but nothing is perfect. The only thing that matter is whether you strife for it or not - but that is all but a little significance in life, that also imperfect.

The Buddhists have the answer for this one.

Buddhists believe that all of existence is flawed. To exist is to carry a flaw, no matter what kind of existence. To escape this 'flawed' existence, they must reach 'Nirvana', the state of non-existence, the ultimate style of being.

The strive for perfection is what makes us grow as a society and without it we lose purpose, i don't believe perfection is possible i just think its something we persue.

The answer that I most agree with minus the last statement, you basically contradicted yourself. the truth is that so long as there is more then one opinion nothing will ever be perfect because its a purely personal and objective descriptor.

the perfect murder to one is senseless violence to another.

the perfect movie to one is an overhyped mistake to another.

humans mix up words, ideas and things all the time. perfection is an idea described by a word but that doesn't mean its changed. ideas can not be proven wrong until shared and criticized so until you share your idea that your girlfriend is perfect, you'll never be wrong.

A perfect crystal has reached geometric perfection. Not very good with examples.

Also Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent, because if you practice something erroneously you will not get any better but instead build a habit.