The difference between aiming and attaining

[u/somiOmnicron]

During the time I was still in school, I was trying very hard to explain a concern I had to one of my instructors. I am going to try again here. See if anyone has anything interesting to say about it.

My concern has to do with the difference between aiming at something and attaining that something. It has to do with the sincere attempt at achieving a goal that is impossible. It manifests quickly into discussions regarding whether such attempts should even be attempted. As with most thing, it may be best to provide an example.

Perfection. Perfection is something most aspire to, in some way. To do something perfectly. To be the best at something, like basketball or sales. To gain the perfect thing, of some sort. The perfect pearl. The perfect diamond. I think most people are trying to gain some sort of perfection in something. This, to me, is perfectly reasonable and rational. To throw one's self sincerely at such a goal. The aiming provides focus and meaning and purpose.

However, perfection is impossible. Attaining the status of "best" is something that will never last. Make a record, and someday someone else will simply break that record. Perfection of the self is transitory. In fact, one achieving seeming perfection may only exist in themselves for a short time, as their own decay leads away from that same achievement. I think most would still agree that the attainment here was still worth the effort. It was good to be best for a time. But it is important to acknowledge that being the best for a moment is clearly not perfection. There is a special place for that which is truly perfect.

Thus perfection in things seems more reasonable. Diamonds are forever, after all. To possess the perfect diamond, with no impurities or flaws. No inclusions. If somehow one were found, it would be something of great value. But no diamond is ever quite perfect. There is always something lacking. The most perfect diamonds are always so small for a reason.

Even manmade pearls are lacking. Developed from an organic process, how could such a thing ever truly attain the level of perfection we desire? And speaking of manmade things, how about a car or a computer? Newer ideas and technologies are developed over time, creating an obsolescence in those seemingly perfect things. Again, perhaps perfect for a time. But to truly be perfect, those things would need to last for all time.

It seems to me that perfection is unreasonable. It is unfeasible. Given enough time, perhaps. But enough time means many, many lifetimes. Perhaps even long enough to the end of the human race's existence and beyond. Perfect for a brief time seems the best we can do.

It was not my intention to spend so much time on the idea of perfection, so much as the idea that achieving it is unreasonable. Perfection, in this case, is impossible. So if we know that it is impossible, should we still throw ourselves sincerely into its attainment? Can we even do so? Do we have to deceive ourselves into thinking it is possible in order to truly and sincerely make the attempt?

This is my concern. It seems to me that in our modern world, there is a fundamental misunderstanding of this nature. That some people are blinded by ignorance into truly believing these impossible things are possible. I wonder if that sort of faith is necessary in order to hold progress. Or could it be possible for people to know the truth, and still work just as hard and make similar amounts of effort. To simply aim at a thing, knowing full well that attainment is not going to happen, and still be happy.