Does perfection exist?

[Dan From Smithville]

When it comes down to being perfect, I believe in being a mature living by the spirit Christian. My natural self doesn’t really care about being perfect, (I’ll do things in a fashion which suits me but may not suit others).

I had my clothes on top of the dryer for days and washed more clothes and put more into the dryer. Today finally got to placing them all away in their rightful place.

When it comes to being perfect I do not expect it, in fact I expect that a problem will come up which will need to worked around. If life in a perception of everything must go correctly 100% all time is inconsistent with human nature and the fact we are not perfect. I know I am most certainly am not perfect, but I try to live maturely by the spirit of Christ in me.

That just my take on the subject as a whole. Thank you for the topic Dan, and it was nice to hear others responses.

That we all come short seems to be a truism. I know I am not perfect by any standard I can imagine. Unless I imagine some fairly poor standards. It just struck me that you might be able to achieve perfection if you lower what you consider to be perfection. It might not be the best way to go though.

I suppose the way that I have come to look at things is that if there is something about me that could be improved and it is important enough to try, I set myself some benchmarks of achievement and take the action to meet those. It may not approach perfection, but I think it puts me down to a better spot on the road.

I look forward to seeing what others come up with and post here. It isn't a subject I am expert at, and I hope that others have ideas and perspectives that might never have occurred to me. Even reading similar views can be useful too.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I'm a perfectionist, i like things to be right in my own mind. Other people can think differently but if i am content with what i do then it's perfect for me.

This is one thing that has jumped out early in the posts on this thread. What we see as perfection is a relative state for many of us. Perfection appears to be both subjective and, at least potentially, objective at this point. Though I am still less confident about the existence an objective state of perfection that we can all know and comment on. Perhaps it is something that remains beyond our ability to see. I do not particularly like I how I worded that last statement, but I will leave it as is for now.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Hi,
Perfection means to be without fault or blemish. A perfectionist is a person that desires to attain to this goal. It does not mean that he/she is perfect.

Perfection is also dependent on ones perspective or subjectivity.
What is perfect for one may be the opposite for another.
A positive or righteous individual might see perfection differently as an anarchist or a nihilist.

A christian believes that God is the one that decides what is perfect.
"The way of the true God is perfect" 2Sam 22:31

Yes, it does seem that many of us agree that there is a personal, relative and subjective state of perfection.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I am going to close it off for tonight or I will be less than perfect in the morning, even by my standards. You all take care. Thank you for all the responses I have gotten so far.

 

[Jimmy]

God

 

[Mock Turtle]

I don't tend to believe in perfection (not in the human sense) - apart from getting the correct answer where necessary, as when solving problems that do have definite solutions. Other than this I think in my life any approach to perfectionism usually lies in the range just good enough to probably the best I can do, such that I rarely aim for being perfect and don't worry when I am inevitably not. I have won few things in life, particularly when such involved competition with others, and mostly never bothered about losing, given that the competition rarely meant much to me. But I don't like failing when I set myself tasks, and usually don't fail. As to perfectionism in any other areas, well it may be good for some but all too often all I see is focus that leads down a blind alley, or one which tends to exclude information that might tend to cause a change of direction.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Honestly, I don't like perfectionism. Its a trait I struggle with in others, not necessarily because I care that they want things a certain way, but because, in my experience, they often become agitated(at best) if and when perfection(for whatever it means in their own head) can't be achieved.

I think perfection means too many different things for one to say they have achieved it. What one finds beautiful, another finds bland. Two people will have a differing opinions on the same dish. One method works for one, while another finds it stifling.

That being said, one should attempt to do the best they can with what they have to work with(resources, time, mindset, etc).

Perfect is the enemy of good.
- Voltaire

 

[viole]

I have friends and know of people that have been called perfectionists. This is often spoken of as a positive trait, although at times I have sensed that some also meant picky too.

One question that always comes to my mind on hearing such statements is "How do they know what is perfect?" for whatever it is they do. Or is it that they just like things a certain way that is pleasing to them and others find something pleasing about it too?

Does perfection in anything really exist? Wouldn't you have to know what is perfect in order to approach it? Is it logically possible to achieve perfection and how would you know?

Yes. If it didn't, it would not be perfection.

Ciao

- viole

 

[PureX]

Does perfection in anything really exist? Wouldn't you have to know what is perfect in order to approach it? Is it logically possible to achieve perfection and how would you know?

Perfection is an ideal. It 'exists' as an ideal. But when we try to apply that ideal to reality, reality nearly always comes up short.

Ideals are often like a lighthouse. They are good for steering a course BY, but disastrous to steer directly AT.

 

[ChristineM]

This is one thing that has jumped out early in the posts on this thread. What we see as perfection is a relative state for many of us. Perfection appears to be both subjective and, at least potentially, objective at this point. Though I am still less confident about the existence an objective state of perfection that we can all know and comment on. Perhaps it is something that remains beyond our ability to see. I do not particularly like I how I worded that last statement, but I will leave it as is for now.

Im not sure objective perfection can exist. Each and every one of us would have a different view of such. An example from this mornings trip to Sarlat. A couple of places the road rises above the trees. A forest must be as close to objective as it gets, and to me at this time of year it is perfection. Others may have a different view.

 

[Secret Chief]

 

[ChristineM]

View attachment 51165

Purrrrrfection...

 

[Starlight]

Only God is perfect.

human beings is not perfect.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Only God is perfect.

human beings is not perfect.

Who or what created them?

 

[Starlight]

Who or what created them?

God can create what he wants. God did not want humans to be perfect in this world because this life is a test from God.

 

[Mock Turtle]

God can create what he wants. God did not want humans to be perfect in this world because this life is a test from God.

Perhaps it is a test of God too?

 

[Revoltingest]

Perfectionism is a disability.
But if properly managed, it can be put to use.
In engineering it helps dedicate oneself to do
the best job, design iteration after iteration,
making it better & better.

 

[ChristineM]

Only God is perfect.

human beings is not perfect.

Which god?

 

[Dan From Smithville]

God

Sure. But that is not perfection that can be objectively demonstrated to others. My idea of God would regard a state of perfection, but it is not going to be seen that way by everyone.

 

[Starlight]

Which god?

The one universal God of the universe\universes. The one God who is the source, creator, substainer of this universe\ universes. The one universal God\source\spirit all religions desribe in different ways