But as Lionino explained in his Carnot cycle example there are certain operations that are produced which are perfect with little room for dispute so how do you account for that ? — kindred
I was contemplating this question and would like to hear the thoughts of fellow thinkers here on whether perfection is a trait that can be universally acknowledged or whether it’s a more subjective description that can also evoke aesthetics in the subject. — kindred
Yet the conundrum remains due to comparative thinking when it comes to what constitutes perfection, sure you might have seen a beautiful perfect goal be executed in sport or purchased a perfectly crafted chair but there is always something better which leads me to think that so called attained perfection is purely subjective on the taste of the subject rather than a thing in itself.
Any other thoughts ? — kindred
Let’s call this chair the perfect chair - would you be happy to have the label perfect applied to it rather than just adequate? — kindred
We have to define a goal for there to be any objectivity. — Down The Rabbit Hole
↪Gregory
But as Lionino explained in his Carnot cycle example there are certain operations that are produced which are perfect with little room for dispute so how do you account for that ? — kindred
For objects defined by their final cause (a lift is that which works as a lift), the goal is already implicit when you use the word. — Lionino
In what sense does this imply that the machine is perfect? — Pantagruel
As you say, the word "lift" has its job in the name. Would any lift that can lift be a perfect lift?
I don't think most people would call a really slow, smelly, uncomfortable, ugly lift "perfect". — Down The Rabbit Hole
The machine does a Carnot cycle, which makes it the most efficient machine possible under the current laws of physics. That falls just fine under the definition of perfection. — Lionino
Let’s just lose the work perfect if all we mean is fit for purpose. — Tom Storm
Which then takes us back to more pragmatic relationships with ideas. How does one describe a 'fit for purpose' morality? Sounds sinister. Fit for whose purpose? — Tom Storm
You could replace the word "perfect" with efficient and your description of the machine would lose nothing. — Pantagruel
Yet the conundrum remains due to comparative thinking when it comes to what constitutes perfection, sure you might have seen a beautiful perfect goal be executed in sport or purchased a perfectly crafted chair but there is always something better which leads me to think that so called attained perfection is purely subjective on the taste of the subject rather than a thing in itself.
Any other thoughts ?
When someone I'm enamored with tells me they'll see me at 10 o'clock, I'm gonna reserve the right to reply, "perfect". — javra
Yes, as you've mentioned, this would require adopting some variant of the Platonic ideal/form of “the Good” - but is in no way sinister in and of itself. — javra
How does one describe a 'fit for purpose' morality? Sounds sinister. Fit for whose purpose? — Tom Storm
I so far take it you're not big on objective morality. — javra
Let’s just lose the work perfect if all we mean is fit for purpose. — Tom Storm
And take all the Dionysian fun out of the term’s usage? I don’t know. — javra
When someone I'm enamored with tells me they'll see me at 10 o'clock, I'm gonna reserve the right to reply, "perfect". — javra
You would be using the word metaphorically/poetically. — Tom Storm
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