Perfection leads to stagnancy?

Question

Would you agree that too much order in our lives and in society leads to a stagnation and maybe we need the challenges that we face so as to lead more meaningful lives.
Back up points-no yea, no, maybe stuff. This is philosophy-so PHILOSOPHIZE!

Answer 1

This reminds me of the book Time Machine by H.G. Wells. The perfect were weak and damned were strong. The perfect were afraid of what lurks in the dark.

Perfection does not lead to stagnancy because in the first place there is no perfection. If things were perfect, we, as humans would not survive as a species (i will not discuss on evolution).

You might say that it is about the struggle for power, i say it is all about the struggle to belong.

I've always thought that man by nature is unsatiable. We always strive for something greater. we always strive for a higher goal...at least the conscious ones. we strive for progress. For something beyond ourselves...because we always want the best. We set goals for ourselves, and once we have reached them, we set higher goals. It is an upward progression because we will always find some flaw in us. We always have and always will strive to better ourselves (look at the things around you, it is all about renovation...from your mobile phones to medicine...there is always renovation. to improve. even in organisms, the best equipped would survive, then environmental changes occur and organisms adapt...the only thing constant is change).

Yes, we strive for order but everything is bound for entropy (disorder). Humans have always defied ecological models due to their rationality. So long as we have the mind, the power to think independently...we will never agree always on an issue. We will never think as one (unless if we were conquered by aliens, but that is beside the point).

"we need the challenges that we face so as to lead more meaningful lives"? without evil, there is no good? without light, there is no darkness? without truth, there is no lie? without death there is no life?

must everything always end up with death? one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. it is all about belonging and power. man! we can't shoulder the problems of the world. but yes, things are sweeter and we realize their value when we are faced with its antithesis. but the problem is, not everyone is conscious about life and the choices and the lessons that are thrown their way. we sometimes are blind or simply choose to be ignorant.

and i ask, must innocent lives be wasted to fight for a cause?

Answer 2

The very nature of "perfection" needs to be reevaluated.

The state of perfection implies stagnation or an unchanging condition, as you pointed out. But this goes against a basic philosophical rule and understated principle of physics.

Namely...

The only constant is change.

If the only constant is change, then there can never be a state or condition of stagnation.

So the whole concept of perfection is flawed and it cannot exist.

There is no perfection, only degrees of excellence.

The pursuit of self-meaning does entail challenges but to pursue challenges for their own sake does not lead to illumination. Only challenges with purpose (i.e., those challenges which help people in some way and/or improve upon the basic human condition), lead one to finding a clear-cut and emotionally satisfying REASON FOR BEING.

Answer 3

Organization breeds success, but to achieve perfection, I am very doubtful. Achieving perfection would entail, flawless thinking, universal knowledge, upright moral beheavior, never failing to tell the truth, never making a mistake, no matter how insignificant. If you want a challenge, try God, because He is the model of perfection, and His goal is to purify your being. I'll guarantee that you will never be stagnant. Anyway back to the idea of perfection, to achieve perfection one must have the ability to use all their time to maximum efficiency. A schedule that is always correct and you keep all your appointments and are never late, all aspects of you life are in totally perfect order. To be absolutely faithful to your spouse and never, ever look at a another woman to lust after her.

Answer 4

Yeah, I'd have to agree, in principle at least.

I think the "Cosmic Wow" keeps throwing monkey wrenches into all our misguided attempts at self-protection and order for this very reason! How can we possibly continue to grow and evolve if we are just so comfortable and safe and .... well, you get the idea... This is cosmic college and it's the pop-quiz that shows what you've really learned as opposed to what you have 'crammed'.
To paraphrase an old Zen-ish saying, "Thank you for these problems I needed so badly!"

Answer 5

There is a great and funny belief system based on this question. It's called Discordianism. It has a main principal that I find very true: There is good order and bad order. Just as there is good Chaos and bad Chaos. To improve our spiritual state we should tear down bad order and replace it with good Chaos.

I have a friend who practices Discordianism by placing random hand made greeting cards on peoples car windshields, and giving flowers to store attendants working third shift.

Check out www.eriswerks.org if you want to know more.

Answer 6

perfection is cold inhuman, machine, death.
imperfection is human,flesh,life.
the energy of life is what makes the world keep spinning around.
there is no purpose and no life, if everything is perfect,there is only technology

Answer 7

hhmmmmm. i'd like to give it a try, nevertheless. i certainly will never agree that order=perfection, which is what your comments, at least, imply. definitely no virgo-capricorn here.