Difference Between Excellence and Perfection

Excellence vs Perfection

Excellence is an attempt to perform a task in the best way possible, whereas perfection is the definitive one hundred percent right way of doing anything. This means that excellence is something which all humans can aspire to whereas perfection is seldom achievable by mankind. For instance take the case of life. Life in the way that it exists is a perfect creation of God. No matter how hard scientists try they have not been able to build a robot that can replicate what a human being or even an animal can do. They make excellent robots but they will never be able to match the perfect functioning of a human or animal body.

Moving to matters more mundane machines can often do things perfectly where man may be only excellent. For instance if a man were to draw a circle with only his hand, he would at best be able to do an excellent approximation, whereas with a compass he would be able to draw it perfectly.

If one were to view it more philosophically, excellence is what mankind gets in its endeavor to be perfect. Continuing with the philosophical note perfection entails one’s being better than everyone else, whereas excellence is an attempt to be better than what one already is. Of the two the latter is a morally superior position.

One might say that perfection for most humans is really a fantasy as it is unattainable. Excellence on the other hand is more up the street of humans as it is attainable and worth striving for. You may say excellence allows you to be wrong once in a while perfection precludes that possibility. Excellence can be at worst considered something of a risk while perfection because of its very nature is something to be afraid of.

Excellence because of its beneficial outcome leads to power while perfection because of the impossibility attached to it leads to frustration. You might want to be excellent as a sportsman as that is definable, but you cannot be a perfect sportsman because you do not know when a better one comes along and beats you in the game.

There is a strong element of arrogance associated with the notion of perfection. Excellence is more democratic, as anyone can strive to be better than they are.One could say that perfection is for the gods and excellence is for man. Mankind accepts his frailty in all humility and can only strive to excel at what it does. The gods who are all perfect on the other hand can sit on judgment on mankind. Perfection is all might and brute power while excellence has the quiet dignity of the brave.

Summary:
1. Excellence is an attempt to perform a task in the best way possible, whereas perfection is the definitive one hundred percent right way of doing anything.
2. Machines can often do things perfectly where man may be only excellent.
3. Perfection entails one’s being better than everyone else, whereas excellence is an attempt to be better than what one already is.
4. Excellence has a morally superior position to perfection.
5. Perfection for most humans is a fantasy as it is unattainable, whereas excellence on the other hand is more up the street of humans as it is attainable and worth striving for.

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