Objectivity vs. subjectivity: can objectivity create order or a different future? Continued 2...

Before I get to the subjective occurrences I would like to draw reader's attention to certain facts which are related to the subject at hand. I would like to point out that, in my opinion based on my observation, there are two different processes related to objectivity and subjectivity: the process of observation and the process of evaluation. These two aforementioned processes are very often misunderstood and mixed up by great many people. Understanding these two processes is, in my opinion, the key during the search of objective reality.

So, let me discuss them for a moment. An act of observing is related to seeing, viewing, watching and noticing something within or without. The act itself implies the existence of observer and the object/subject of observation. Through the act of observation the observer gathers information and facts about that which is observed. As noted in my previous posts, the state of observer effects the act of observation as well as its outcome, I will get back to this rather soon. It is also important to note that the very act of observation binds together the observer and its reality. In fact, I think that the act of observation defines the reality of observer. Observation is quite a natural thing. When we are small children, all we do is observing constantly gathering data. This is the primary way that we learn about the reality around us, way before we can speak and formulate conscious thoughts.

Please, note that when we observe we are neither evaluating nor judging what we see. We merely engage our perception aparatus to connect to the external or internal environment. For example, there is a room with a table in it and there is a cup on the table full of tea. Of course, we need an observer to do the deed for us. The observer enters the room and first thing it does is noticing the table and the cup on it. In the similar way we see the sun, moon, stars at night, clouds in the sky or pouring rain. The situation gets a bit more complicated in relation to the simple observing, when right after observation one starts to assign a meaning to that which has just been observed. And I do not mean the act of describing what we see, which is simply reflecting of what is viewed. When the observer starts assigning a meaning, we enter the process of evaluation and judgment. I do not mean to imply that it is bad or good to evaluate or judge. It simply is one of natural processes occurring within the observer. However, this is where objectivity and subjectivity start playing an important role. One can evaluate more objectively or more subjectively. When the observer evaluates, it attempts to relate itself to the object/subject of observation. If there exists such a relation, either through experience and knowledge, or through experience and lack of knowledge, the observer is able to assign a meaning to the object/subject of observation. In my opinion, if the observation is based on direct experience and knowledge then the evaluation can be more objective (read: reflects objective reality), whereas if it is based only on experience and there is a lack of knowledge within the observer such evaluation is more subjective and not necessarily reflects the objective reality.

It is also worth mentioning that the relation of observer to that, which it observes tends to color or influence both the state of observer (emotional, intellectual and physical one) and the results of observation through a process of feedback. Therefore, if the observer desires to evaluate more objectively, it should be aware of this process and do not allow the relation to introduce a bias to the evaluation.

So, as you see the there are two essential aspects related to objectivity and subjectivity: that of knowledge and that of state of the observer. My hypothesis is that the more knowledge the observer has and the purer the state the observer is in the more objective its observations and evaluations can be. By purity I mean that the number of assumptions the observer has towards the object/subject of observation.

I conclude my pondering for tonight. In my next post I will discuss the examples of subjectivity, so if you are interested stay tuned...

Oli