Paragon is a concept that can refer to a similarity or a comparison.
Paragon is a term used as a synonym for comparison or similarity . A paragon, therefore, arises when comparing two realities , events, objects, etc.
For example: “The president's decision establishes a parallel between both countries” , “For the achievements achieved at his age, Lionel Messi is unparalleled by any other player in history” , “This holiday entails unparalleled rituals” .
Origin of the term paragon
The etymological origin of paragon, a term that was formerly written paragon , is linked to a Greek concept that is usually translated as “touchstone.” This stone was used by alchemists and jewelers to make comparisons with precious metals and thus judge their quality.
The alchemists compared gold and silver with the touchstone, and from there the Spanish verb paragonar emerged, in the 16th century, with roots in a Greek verb that could be translated as sharpen , sharpen or sharpen. Over the decades, its use transformed it into the word we know today, with the n before the g .
Metric pattern
Today, the small metal bar used in a laboratory as a sample for comparison is called a paragon. For example, in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, located in Paris, there is the platinum-iridium bar that until 1960 was considered the metric standard.
Let us not forget that initially, the unit of the meter was calculated on a meridian of the Earth, although it was finally defined as a fraction of the speed of light, which is used as a universal constant.
Something or someone without parallel has extraordinary qualities and that is why it cannot be compared with anything or anyone: "Diego Maradona was a footballer without parallel."
Unparalleled
The most common use of the concept today is in the expression “unparalleled.” This phrase is used to refer to that which, due to its extraordinary characteristics, cannot be compared with anything else.
If someone expresses that the beauty of the Caribbean beaches is something “unparalleled” , they will be indicating that there are no other beaches capable of competing with the Caribbean ones in terms of their natural attractions. This expression, of course, is subjective.
The absence of paragon, in any case, is rather symbolic: two things of the same type can always be compared or compared, even when their particularities are dissimilar . The expression refers to the lack of relevance of the comparison: the successes obtained by Michael Jordan , for example, can be described as “unparalleled” , since this former player is usually considered the best basketball player in history . Comparing Jordan 's achievements with those of other basketball players, then, makes little sense.
The importance of comparison
Behind the generally superficial use we give to the concept of paragon lies a need that was more evident in the time of the touchstone: compare to understand and learn . We live in an era in which there are so many taboos that communication has become a sophisticated discipline only possible to master with sharp reflexes. In many circles, it is frowned upon to reveal a person's sexual orientation, religion or ethnic origin, as if it were preferable to pretend that there are no differences rather than understanding that there is nothing wrong with them.
Through comparison we can establish these differences and observe the world more clearly, something that does not necessarily entail a subjective opinion . How can we appreciate the virtues of a person or an object if there is no point of comparison? For example: we feel protected by our friends because their interest in us is greater than that of the rest of the people around us, and we know this after comparing both attitudes. Therefore, once again, the expression has no parallel reflects the lack of will to make a comparison, and not that it is impossible or useless.