-Hector-
2004-05-04 07:04:57 UTC
Am I perfect?
Are you perfect?
Compare yourself with your neighbor. Are you perfect?
If you are perfect, then go and pronounce to your neighbor that you
are perfect!
Broadcast to the world-at-large that you are perfect! Let the world
bask, revel, and glory in your perfection.
If you are not perfect, then how do you know this? How can you not be
perfect?
What is the model for perfection? What is the benchmark?
We are evolved creatures, replete with foibles, idiosyncracies,
predilections, eccentricities, and other assorted quirks. Our various
"traits" can be nothing more than symptoms of evolutionary processes.
Subsequently, these things cannot be considered imperfections. If
such characteristics are to be considered imperfections, this can only
be so if a concept of perfection can be envisioned. This would imply
that there exists a perfect individual by which all others may be
gauged, or man is imbued with a latent abstract conception of
perfection. If there actually does exist the ultimate paragon of
humanity, let him or her step forward that all may acknowledge the
same and all other's imperfections will be revealed. If it is a
singular race of peoples, let the same acclaim such and the rest of
humanity will genuflect deferentially. Perhaps it is the Aryan race?
Is Bill Clinton perfect? Is George Bush perfect? If they are not
perfect, how is this determined? Is Osama Bin Laden perfect? If Bin
Laden is simply an evolved creature, then he can only be perfect. If
he is not perfect, his imperfection can only be established within the
context of the concept of perfection. If there is no perfect person,
and all are products of an evolutionary process, then the realization
of imperfection can only be assessed in contrast to an ultimate ideal.
What is the source of an ideal state of being? Simple
imagination? (If there is no state of imperfection, one may simply
retreat from this dialectic and don their perfection with the
arrogance it deserves.) If it is the mere product of imagination, it
is yet a relative notion or it could not be defined in any appreciable
way. Assuming that an innate sense of perfection inheres in the
individual and the race of man, it can only be instilled within the
same from an autonomous, independent source, if no genuine human model
of perfection impinges itself upon mankind. This source must
necessarily be something that has an inherent perfection, or has
defined the guidelines for perfection, else again imperfection, as an
abstraction, could never be conceived. Whatever this source may be,
it necessarily must be something that exceeds the human individual or
the race of man, if the individual appreciates the concept of
imperfection. So what would this 'source' be? If most sane
individuals concede the concept of imperfection, then the concept is
one that is fundamentally universal. This would imply a universal
sense of what perfection is or, at the least, a universal appreciation
of the individual's imperfection. Alternately, from this one can
infer that there inheres in each individual an innate understanding of
a universal standard by which all behavior may be measured, and this
understanding can only be derived from a metaphysical model beyond the
individual. Otherwise, each individual of the race of man is perfect,
e.g. Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Caligula, et al.
If there is no such thing as imperfection, then Christians, in
the corporate and individually, can only be perfect. How could such
persons ever be wrong?
The pinnacle of perfection,
Hector
Are you perfect?
Compare yourself with your neighbor. Are you perfect?
If you are perfect, then go and pronounce to your neighbor that you
are perfect!
Broadcast to the world-at-large that you are perfect! Let the world
bask, revel, and glory in your perfection.
If you are not perfect, then how do you know this? How can you not be
perfect?
What is the model for perfection? What is the benchmark?
We are evolved creatures, replete with foibles, idiosyncracies,
predilections, eccentricities, and other assorted quirks. Our various
"traits" can be nothing more than symptoms of evolutionary processes.
Subsequently, these things cannot be considered imperfections. If
such characteristics are to be considered imperfections, this can only
be so if a concept of perfection can be envisioned. This would imply
that there exists a perfect individual by which all others may be
gauged, or man is imbued with a latent abstract conception of
perfection. If there actually does exist the ultimate paragon of
humanity, let him or her step forward that all may acknowledge the
same and all other's imperfections will be revealed. If it is a
singular race of peoples, let the same acclaim such and the rest of
humanity will genuflect deferentially. Perhaps it is the Aryan race?
Is Bill Clinton perfect? Is George Bush perfect? If they are not
perfect, how is this determined? Is Osama Bin Laden perfect? If Bin
Laden is simply an evolved creature, then he can only be perfect. If
he is not perfect, his imperfection can only be established within the
context of the concept of perfection. If there is no perfect person,
and all are products of an evolutionary process, then the realization
of imperfection can only be assessed in contrast to an ultimate ideal.
What is the source of an ideal state of being? Simple
imagination? (If there is no state of imperfection, one may simply
retreat from this dialectic and don their perfection with the
arrogance it deserves.) If it is the mere product of imagination, it
is yet a relative notion or it could not be defined in any appreciable
way. Assuming that an innate sense of perfection inheres in the
individual and the race of man, it can only be instilled within the
same from an autonomous, independent source, if no genuine human model
of perfection impinges itself upon mankind. This source must
necessarily be something that has an inherent perfection, or has
defined the guidelines for perfection, else again imperfection, as an
abstraction, could never be conceived. Whatever this source may be,
it necessarily must be something that exceeds the human individual or
the race of man, if the individual appreciates the concept of
imperfection. So what would this 'source' be? If most sane
individuals concede the concept of imperfection, then the concept is
one that is fundamentally universal. This would imply a universal
sense of what perfection is or, at the least, a universal appreciation
of the individual's imperfection. Alternately, from this one can
infer that there inheres in each individual an innate understanding of
a universal standard by which all behavior may be measured, and this
understanding can only be derived from a metaphysical model beyond the
individual. Otherwise, each individual of the race of man is perfect,
e.g. Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Caligula, et al.
If there is no such thing as imperfection, then Christians, in
the corporate and individually, can only be perfect. How could such
persons ever be wrong?
The pinnacle of perfection,
Hector