Final answer:
Edmund Burke's assertion that humans are 'rotten with perfection' refers to the idea that while humans have the propensity to seek perfection, they are intrinsically limited and flawed, an idea that echoes through philosophical thought including Platonic, Aquinian, and Kantian ethics.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Edmund Burke suggests that humans are 'rotten with perfection,' he is invoking a complex view of human nature that recognizes the inherent flaws and limitations within the human condition. In this context, Burke is likely arguing that humans strive for perfection but often fall short (a), acknowledging that an imperfect human society reflects the imperfect nature of its members. This imperfection is embodied in the physical substance of our world, contrasting with the Platonic ideal forms, as well as within the idea presented by Thomas Aquinas that the goal of life is to become a perfect image of God, an aspiration which inevitably highlights our shortcomings.
The philosophical notion that humans are flawed has been a recurring theme throughout history, with different thinkers, including Plato, Aquinas, and Burke himself, proposing that while aspirations toward perfection are inherent to human nature, there is an acknowledgement of the inherent limitations and imperfections within humanity. Furthermore, the point made by the question can be linked to other philosophical ideas, such as Kant's Kingdom of Ends, which emphasizes treating people as ends in themselves rather than as mere means to achieve personal perfection.