Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal

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a b c d e f g h i Tatarkiewicz, "Perfection in the Sciences. II. Perfection in Physics and Chemistry", Dialectics and Humanism, vol. VII, no. 2 (spring 1980), p. 139. Her methods are simple, but effective. Place yourself in the presence of ‘the Master Himself’. Where can you find a better companion? Let Him be your teacher, do everything to please Him and realize how close He always is to you. Remain with Him, conscious of His presence and grateful for such a good friend. ‘As you grow accustomed to having Him present at your side, and He sees that you do so with love and that you go about striving to please Him, you will not be able – as they say – to get away from Him; He will never fail you; He will help you in all your trials; you will find Him everywhere. Do you think it's some small matter to have a friend like this at your side? O Sisters, those of you who cannot engage in much discursive reflection with the intellect or keep your mind from distraction, get used to this p The ethical question of perfection concerns not whether man is perfect, but whether he should be. And if he should be, then how is this to be attained? [13]

The only gluten-free baking book you'll ever need, with delicious recipes that work perfectly every single time. From proper crusty bread, pillowy soft cinnamon rolls and glorious layered cakes to fudgy brownies, incredibly flaky rough puff pastry and delicate patisserie - everything that once seemed impossible to make gluten-free can now be baked by you. These two mid-18th-century schools of thought — one seeing perfection in nature and in the past, and the other in civilization and in the future — represented a reaction not against the idea of perfection, but against its transcendental interpretation: as, earlier, the measure of perfection had been the idea of God, so now it was the idea of nature or of civilization. It was the latter idea that ultimately gained the upper hand and passed into the 19th century as the legacy of the Enlightenment. [20] The main premise of the book is to underscore the role that modern culture plays in rising levels of perfectionism. While socially prescribed perfectionism can involve the perception that society more generally imposes unrealistic expectations, so far, the role of society and culture has been largely overlooked in the literature. In this regard, the book broadens our understanding and our way of thinking about perfectionism. While more research is needed in this area, Curran makes a convincing case for the role of both the economy and culture in creating an environment that amplifies perfectionism.

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In the latter part of the 18th century, Immanuel Kant wrote much in his Critique of Judgment about perfection — inner and outer, objective and subjective, qualitative and quantitative, perceived clearly and obscurely, the perfection of nature and that of art. Nevertheless, in aesthetics Kant found that "The judgment of taste [i.e., aesthetic judgment] is entirely independent of the concept of perfection" — that is, beauty was something different from perfection. [31] a b c Tatarkiewicz, "Ontological and Theological Perfection," Dialectics and Humanism, vol. VIII, no. 1 (winter 1981), p. 188. A powerful, poignant book on the impossibly high expectations that stand in the way of happiness, health, and success. Thomas Curran is the world's leading expert on perfectionism, and he's written the definitive book on why it's rising, how it wreaks havoc on our lives, and what we can do to stop it. If you've ever found yourself fearing failure, ruminating about mistakes, or just feeling that you aren't good enough, this is a must read.' - Adam Grant

Even if you don't think of yourself as a perfectionist, this remarkable book will illuminate some insidious effects of perfectionism in your life, as well as in society writ large. Fortunately, Thomas Curran offers a way out, a way to increase our fulfillment and joy by learning how to embrace the power of "good enough". Research-based, wise, and practical,? The Perfection Trap is a must-read' - Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School a b Tatarkiewicz, "Perfection: the Term and the Concept," Dialectics and Humanism, vol. VI, no. 4 (autumn 1979), p. 7. I guess the main point here is that in life we develop an idea of what we think perfect is supposed to be like. Then life shows us that perfect doesn’t look a bit like what we thought it would, and if we’re smart we’ll see the difference. That if we grab for real-world perfection we will be rewarded with wisdom and joy. Kasparek's translation has subsequently also appeared in the book: Władysław Tatarkiewicz, On Perfection, Warsaw University Press, Center of Universalism, 1992, pp.9–51. The book is a collection of papers by and about the late Professor Tatarkiewicz. Plato and the Stoics had made perfection a philosophical watchword. Soon it would be transformed, in Christianity, into a religious one. [13]Theses on perfection persist within the Church to the present day. The first condition for perfection is the desire of it. Also necessary is grace — but God gives grace to those who desire perfection and strive for it. Another condition for perfection is constancy of striving and effort. Augustine says: "He who stops, regresses." And effort is necessary in things not only great but also in the smallest; the Gospel according to St. Luke says: "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." An aid in approaching perfection is an awareness of God's perfection and of one's own imperfection. [18] Calvin In the chapter, “Accept yourself”, Curran offers some practical and realistic advice for those struggling with perfectionism. Though he admits this won’t necessarily be easy with the forces of today’s culture working against us. The first step is understanding perfectionism and recognising that our need for perfection is largely conditioned by our culture. Acceptance involves not only accepting ourselves, but accepting we are not responsible for the culture we live in, especially the young who have inherited it from previous generations. That said, while the economy and society will continue to feed on our insecurities, he urges us to take a stand against it. Ultimately, [countering societal perfectionism] will require policy changes and huge collective action, such as stricter regulations for advertising and social media platforms, fewer mandatory tests in schools and colleges alongside a greater focus on development and learning Curran isn’t afraid to blame advertising companies who are well aware that discontented consumers are more profitable (117); hence the trade-off of this economic growth is our health and happiness. And while many of us continually try to perfect ourselves with the latest fashion trends, beauty products or gym regimes, Curran argues that “it’s society that’s broken, not us” (248).

Władysław Tatarkiewicz, O doskonałości (On Perfection), Warsaw, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1976. Soon after, the Stoics introduced the concept of perfection into ethics expressly, describing it as harmony — with nature, reason, man himself. They held that such harmony—such perfection—was attainable for anyone. [13] a b Tatarkiewicz, "Moral Perfection", Dialectics and Humanism, vol. VII, no. 3 (summer 1980), p. 120A beautiful, reflective and rigorous exploration of the causes and consequences of perfectionism. Curran doesn't shy away from analyzing either the psycho-spiritual, or the political, cultural and economic, sources of this malaise, yielding a fascinating and panoramic analysis of perfectionism in modern capitalist societies' - Grace Blakeley Tatarkiewicz, "Aesthetic Perfection," Dialectics and Humanism, vol. VII, no. 4 (autumn 1980), pp. 151–52. The Renaissance architect Sebastiano Serlio (1475–1554) stated: "the round form is the most perfect of all." [25]