i77 comments on Rationality Quotes November 2009 - Less Wrong

8 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 29 November 2009 11:36PM

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Comment author: i77 30 November 2009 03:55:41PM *  1 point [-]

... perfect existence, huh?

Perfection does not exist in this world. It may seem like a cliche, but it's true. Obviously, mediocre fools will forever lust for perfection and seek it out.

However, what meaning is there in "perfection"? None. Not a bit. "Perfection" disgusts me. After "perfection" there exists nothing higher. Not even room for "creation", which means there is no room for wisdom or talent either.

Understand? To scientists like ourselves, "perfection" is "despair".

Even if something is created that is more magnificient than anything before it, it still however, will be far from perfect.

Scientists are constantly struggling with that antinomy. And furthermore, must become beings capable of drawing pleasure from such.

In short, the instant that absurd word, "perfection", came from your lips, you had already been defeated by me.

-- Kurotsuchi Mayuri

Comment author: [deleted] 01 December 2009 02:17:34AM 8 points [-]

It's possible, and not undesirable, to achieve perfection. For example, the majority of words I type are spelled perfectly, and the perfect answer to "what is two plus two?" is "four". It's just not possible or desirable to achieve it everywhere.