Discussion Forum > Imperfectionism
Seraphim:
<< Unless permanence and significance are part of your definition of perfection. In general terms, they are certainly part of *my* definition of perfection. >>
I personally don't use "my" definition of perfection. I prefer to use the dictionary definition.
<< The terms "perfect" and "perfection" are being used in this discussion with widely different meanings and contexts. >>
The dictionary definition (Oxford Dictionary of English) of perfect is:
"Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be".
Maybe American dictionaries define it differently?
<< Unless permanence and significance are part of your definition of perfection. In general terms, they are certainly part of *my* definition of perfection. >>
I personally don't use "my" definition of perfection. I prefer to use the dictionary definition.
<< The terms "perfect" and "perfection" are being used in this discussion with widely different meanings and contexts. >>
The dictionary definition (Oxford Dictionary of English) of perfect is:
"Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be".
Maybe American dictionaries define it differently?
October 14, 2011 at 22:39 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
"Having all the required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics"
That is the question. To fully define perfect, you must define which qualities or characteristics are desired.
That is the question. To fully define perfect, you must define which qualities or characteristics are desired.
October 14, 2011 at 22:53 |
Alan Baljeu
Alan Baljeu
Seraphim:
<< The 5-sentence email turns out to be a ***lot*** closer to perfection than my 2-page detailed emails with executive summaries. >>
Using the dictionary definition of perfect above, what are the "required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics" of these emails?
Prolixity, longwindedness, time consuming (for both the reader and writer)?
or
Conciseness, clarity and incisiveness?
<< The 5-sentence email turns out to be a ***lot*** closer to perfection than my 2-page detailed emails with executive summaries. >>
Using the dictionary definition of perfect above, what are the "required or desirable elements, qualities or characteristics" of these emails?
Prolixity, longwindedness, time consuming (for both the reader and writer)?
or
Conciseness, clarity and incisiveness?
October 14, 2011 at 22:54 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
Alan:
<< To fully define perfect, you must define which qualities or characteristics are desired. >>
You've changed the wording. You need to define which qualities or characteristics are desirable, not desired. As Seraphim discovered, the qualities he desired in his emails (permanence and significance?) were not actually desirable.
<< To fully define perfect, you must define which qualities or characteristics are desired. >>
You've changed the wording. You need to define which qualities or characteristics are desirable, not desired. As Seraphim discovered, the qualities he desired in his emails (permanence and significance?) were not actually desirable.
October 14, 2011 at 22:56 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
This thread has expanded so fast it's run onto a second page before I could catch it. So I'm closing it now. Please feel free to continue in a new thread.
October 14, 2011 at 22:57 |
Mark Forster
Mark Forster
"Trying" is blurrier then "aiming to", right?
If I were aiming to become a cook I'd dig much more in techniques, traditions, physics ecc.
Now I just get some inspiration from time to time here or there but I mainly self experiment. But I also limit myself consciously to less variety: since I know I don't want to put too much time and effort in this, I stick with fewer things, aiming to do them very nicely.
<<Pathological perfectionists can't even get started until the systems are sorted out and set up. Which means they often just can't get started, period.>>
Precisely. And definitily not the same behaviour Mark is talking about.