Definition of perfection

The word "perfection" can be traced back to the Latin root "per-," meaning "completely" or "fore" (as in prefix), and "fect," meaning "accomplished" or "done" (stem). These parts combined form the word "perfect" during the Middle English period, which ultimately led to the modern English word "perfection." The concept of perfection, however, has deeper philosophical roots. In ancient Greek philosophy, Aristotle defined perfection as the highest potential a thing can attain, while the famous Roman philosopher, Cicero, saw perfection as a harmony between the inner self and the outer world. These ideas were further developed during the Renaissance, with the seminal Catholic counter-reformer St. Thomas Aquinas proposing that perfection is the capacity to fulfill one's potential, which is attainable through virtue, knowledge, and charity. In the 20th century, theologians such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Hans Urs von Balthasar expanded on this notion, seeing perfection as a dynamic and ongoing process, rather than a static state, and emphasizing the role of love and individuality in its attainment. Today, the word "perfection" is commonly employed in everyday language to denote something free from errors or flaws, as well as in fields such as science, art, and religion, where it signifies various degrees of completeness and beauty.