Discovering objectivity
Discovering objectivity
When I was a newly graduated college student ( I am sad to say) I did not know what objective was... I remember looking up the definition and still not understanding what it meant or how to use it properly. I also could not tell you the difference between "subjective" and "objective". The Cambridge On-Line Dictionary defines objective as an adjective and is "based on real facts and not influenced by personal beliefs or feelings" then it says "NOTE: The opposite is subjective." I had this idea they should be opposite but I could not tell you why. I want to take a moment to explain two things; 1. Why I didn't know the difference between subjectivity and objectivity and 2. Why knowing the difference has changed my life so much.
Not knowing the difference, on the face of things is easy to explain; I was never taught. Why was I not taught this and what was I taught is where it gets complicated and while it may sound subjective I will try to give evidence to back up what I am saying. Before I start I want to point out that there was nothing subversive or bad about what happened it is just the way things are. They are this way and have been this way for many thousands of years, since before written history, a cultural program.
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places.
Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.
Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.
Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you.
Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.
After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- the Lord Buddha 
1. Reality exists as an objective absolute-facts are facts, independent of man's feelings, wishes, hopes or fears.
2. Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses) is man's only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.
3. Man-every man-is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
4. The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism. It is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit. It is a system where no man may obtain any values from others by resorting to physical force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force against others. The government acts only as a policeman that protects man's rights; it uses physical force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use, such as criminals or foreign invaders. In a system of full capitalism, there should be (but, historically, has not yet been) a complete separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.
I suggest that objectivity brings a person to balance. It allows a person to understand of what he or she believes versus what he or she knows to true or have a grasp of reasoned reality. Breaking away from ingrained cultural programmed subjective thought will not be easy and will take time. At first, if you are like me, you may even get angry at people for giving you their subjective answers but if you work through the anger you might find peace of mind as I have...
I would also suggest that objectivity can bring the world into balance just as it has done for me, by allowing the world to have an understanding of the reasoned reality. Reasoned reality will allow people to work together for a common goal by putting aside their beliefs and understanding that reasoned reality is more important.
Knowing the difference between the objective and the subjective is one of understanding; objective is the knowing and subjective is the believing; objective is the thinking and the subjective is the feeling. Understanding this difference is quite important because our world is in peril with things such as war, racism and global warming. By learning the difference, we can temper the extremes of the good and bad brought with only an understanding of subjectivity. By understanding when we are being subjective and objective we will have the ability to choose; for now we are compelled by our feelings. We need to understand the boundaries of what we know so we can get past our beliefs and feelings and into a better future.
P.S :i dont own the copyright to this article.To read the original aricle goTO
http://www.squidoo.com/think-objectively
Not knowing the difference, on the face of things is easy to explain; I was never taught. Why was I not taught this and what was I taught is where it gets complicated and while it may sound subjective I will try to give evidence to back up what I am saying. Before I start I want to point out that there was nothing subversive or bad about what happened it is just the way things are. They are this way and have been this way for many thousands of years, since before written history, a cultural program.
Buddha on Objectivity
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places.Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it.
Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past.
Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you.
Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests.
After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- the Lord Buddha
Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism
Objectivism holds that:
1. Reality exists as an objective absolute-facts are facts, independent of man's feelings, wishes, hopes or fears.2. Reason (the faculty which identifies and integrates the material provided by man's senses) is man's only means of perceiving reality, his only source of knowledge, his only guide to action, and his basic means of survival.
3. Man-every man-is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life.
4. The ideal political-economic system is laissez-faire capitalism. It is a system where men deal with one another, not as victims and executioners, nor as masters and slaves, but as traders, by free, voluntary exchange to mutual benefit. It is a system where no man may obtain any values from others by resorting to physical force, and no man may initiate the use of physical force against others. The government acts only as a policeman that protects man's rights; it uses physical force only in retaliation and only against those who initiate its use, such as criminals or foreign invaders. In a system of full capitalism, there should be (but, historically, has not yet been) a complete separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.
"Knowing" is important!
What is the difference between Subjective and Objective?
People seem to believe we lose our humanity by being objective. I suggest the opposite is true. Our humanity is lost in the swill of negative subjective beliefs allowing people to kill in gods name or some other belief or ignore the looming growing population that is COMSUMING the earths resources exponentially. I do however believe that great good comes of positive subjective thought, art, literature (my pictures) etc.. But I suggest we begin to get people to understand that objective people have not lost their humanity and that great good can come out of objective people. We might even begin to solve some problems.I suggest that objectivity brings a person to balance. It allows a person to understand of what he or she believes versus what he or she knows to true or have a grasp of reasoned reality. Breaking away from ingrained cultural programmed subjective thought will not be easy and will take time. At first, if you are like me, you may even get angry at people for giving you their subjective answers but if you work through the anger you might find peace of mind as I have...
I would also suggest that objectivity can bring the world into balance just as it has done for me, by allowing the world to have an understanding of the reasoned reality. Reasoned reality will allow people to work together for a common goal by putting aside their beliefs and understanding that reasoned reality is more important.
Knowing the difference between the objective and the subjective is one of understanding; objective is the knowing and subjective is the believing; objective is the thinking and the subjective is the feeling. Understanding this difference is quite important because our world is in peril with things such as war, racism and global warming. By learning the difference, we can temper the extremes of the good and bad brought with only an understanding of subjectivity. By understanding when we are being subjective and objective we will have the ability to choose; for now we are compelled by our feelings. We need to understand the boundaries of what we know so we can get past our beliefs and feelings and into a better future.
P.S :i dont own the copyright to this article.To read the original aricle goTO
http://www.squidoo.com/think-objectively
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