Sunday 8 March 2020

Objective Subjectivity

What are the outlines for something to be considered objective or subjective?

Since definitions seem that they can be subjective, I’ll try to make this more objective (if there are degrees of objectivity?), by defining “objective”, and “subjective”. My subjective interpretation of the definition of “subjective”: a factor or variable which is based on or relative to individual interpretation. 
An objective (or more so?) definition, from Oxford, of “subjective”: “based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.”

This technical definition does not seem entirely objective, because, as I analysed in my last post; Define Define, all definitions seem somewhat subjective to the individuals interpretation of meaning. For eg, Oxford's definition of “subjective” seems subjective in itself, because the exact meaning of “feelings, tastes, or opinions” can be just as the definition describes; based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. The exact components which those 3 words are composed of, are not entirely distinct. What exactly are “feelings, tastes, or opinions”? These 3 concepts could be referring to some combination of emotions, neurochemicals, memory access, and possibly more, but the exact components are not exact, and therefore individual interpretation of the meaning, is involved. There is a general idea of what these concepts mean, but it still involves some degree of personal best guess, which seems to be basically what “opinions” are. So if “subjective” basically means; based on a personal best guess, and the exact meaning of virtually all communication, as well as all choices and reactions (as I further estimated in a post from 9 days ago; Best Guess) are based on a personal best guess (to some degree), then what is not subjective?

A (less subjective) definition of “objective”; not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.
It seems that any situation of considering or representing facts, involves some degree of personal interpretation of that which is represented. I further considered individual estimates of facts in my 2nd last post; Proven Fact. There is always an individual best guess of the meaning of any information that is being represented. 

But since this definition itself of “objective” is open for interpretation, the meaning of “not influenced” could be interpreted in different ways. This could mean 100% lacking of influence (which I already referenced), or it could mean majoritively, or to a significantly high degree -lacking of influence. If the meaning of objective is <%100 lacking of influence, and at least some miniscule degree of influence is acceptable, then some information or facts could potentially be objectively considered or represented. That information which is to be regarded as objective, would then be to some degree of objectivity, and require an individual best guess of its applicability to be considered objective.

Perhaps there is another scenario where facts can be completely objective. Facts or information might be completely objective if interpretation is taken out of the scenario. In a way, this may only include hypothetical scenarios. Hypothetically, there probably are facts or information which is 100% correct. These facts can not be known 100% by any individual, since interpretation is involved for anyone's knowledge of anything, therefore making it only a best guess based on information that the individual has. But information can be referred to as objective, as an insinuation of the intention of meaning of facts that are true, regardless of interpretation. 

It seems that in a way, everything that we are aware of, or communicate with others, relies on individual opinion of a best guess, through interpretation. Any knowledge or ideas that anyone has, could be considered some degree of subjective, and the degree of subjectiveness might be relative to the degree of personalized influence. A significantly small degree of personalized influence, could allow some degree of objectivity, unless objectiveness is considered 100% lacking of influence. If 100% is required, then objectiveness can still be referred to as a hypothetical, but once anything has been interpreted, it may be subject to; Objective Subjectivity.

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