--- Vidyadhar Gadgil <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > -- 'objectivity' is a myth, and any process of > selection perforce > indicates a 'bias'. I am sure jc is not himself > claiming to be > 'objective' and 'unbiased'. All one can do is try to > present facts to buttress one's viewpoints. >
It is hard to be objective about personal and emotional matters. But objectivity is not a myth. There is a real world out there that can be observed. Multiple observers can independently arrive at the same conclusion. Facts can be presented in an unbiased manner without regard to a preconceived viewpoint or ideology. Indeed, facts by definition are objective facts. The very fact that they can be selected as independent tokens to suit a particular viewpoint attests to their objectivity - their independence from the subjective viewpoint. On the flip side, it used to be thought that subjectivity was a myth. But we are now beginning to understand its physical basis based on objective evidence. The day is not far when we would be able to make objective instrumental observations (by which I mean multiple observers would independently arrive at the same conclusion) and quantitative measurements on subjective content. It is becoming increasingly clear that both objective and subjective worlds are real. The only difference between the two is that while the former can exist independently of the latter, the converse is not true. Subjectivity is born of a pre-existing objective world, and perishes with the part of the objective world that gives rise to it. Cheers, Santosh
