If the borg only assimilate in an effort to achieve perfection, but don't spend any time trying to study, understand, explore, or appreciate anything in the universe around them, then what's the point of trying to achieve perfection? Would their goals change if and when they were ever able to reach their goal of perfection?

Why study the universe when the Borg consider it irrelevant since they gain knowledge of the universe other races have gained when said race is added to the Borg collective consciousness

Yeah, I think, from their perspective, they study the universe BY assimilating other species.

They study the universe... but only to assimilate further and to archieve perfection

I'd say both.

That was a major plot point in Scorpion. The Borg couldn’t work out how to beat Species 8472 because they only learn by assimilation. Voyager was able to figure out how to modify the Borg nanoprobes to fight 8472 because they actually engage in research and exploration.

Thanks for your excellent perspectives everyone! Yeah I guess the borg probably explore and further their understanding of the universe in general, but mostly do it indirectly through assimilation, like others mentioned. They must at least try to have some basic understanding of the universe around them in order to function effectively.

I was curious about it since I remember that the borg catalogued a spatial phenomenon (like an ion storm) and studied the omega molecule, and was wondering why they'd do that if they were only interested in assimilation. Also, if the borg ever achieved perfection (as they saw it), what would their goals and purpose be? Would they throw a big "congratulations, we assimilated the universe and achieved perfection" party? What would they do if there was nothing left to assimilate?

The Borg studied the Omega molecule by assimilating other species that studied it. They didn’t actually conduct any research on their own.

I doubt that the Borg really know what they would do if they ever achieved perfection. Perfection isn’t something that can ever really be achieved, and you can always strive to be more perfect. If the Borg ever did successfully assimilate everything that there is to assimilate, I don’t think they would know what to do with themselves.

I thing that the explore the univers dy asimilat it.

I dunno, the universe is pretty big