Objectivity is impossible
No one has objectivity. I’m paraphrasing a dear friend of mine’s view that people can’t be objective because their brain function as well as their experience clouds their perception of reality.
The subject of objectivity came up in passing as my friend and I were discussing brain function and its corresponding software. I don’t share my friend’s view about objectivity, but I decided not to press the point to hard, mostly because we’ve covered this ground before. Having reached an impasse on the subject of objectivity, we both have an inability to understand one another’s point of view. He thinks (objectively BTW) I’m stuck in old outmoded ways of thinking; I think he’s just being illogical and has failed to notice he has sawed off the branch he is sitting on epistemologically.
But I felt like writing about it not only because I believe I have something to say with regard to the objectivity of human beings, but because I know my good friend’s view is the reigning champion in our culture. It is (with all due respect to him) an absurd notion–absurd because it’s illogical and because people who hold this view don’t practice what they preach. We may say we believe humans are without objectivity. However, in our actions we say something else. And the irony is that while we are doing this we are seemingly unaware of our unintended hypocrisy.
For example, my friend states as incontrovertible fact we can’t be objective. Yet his statement illustrates exactly the thing he claims is impossible. If all our assessments are tainted at their source (see Freud) , then that would have to mean even my dear friend’s view that people can’t be objective is also tainted, and thus not worthy of belief. His view also commits suicide since the statement itself contradicts the very thing it claims as fact, truth, etc.
It also means that the information my friend and I choose to act on is spurious as well. Or rather, how we interpret the information is flawed. In this particular case, we were discussing the findings of the noted psychologist Daniel G. Amen. We both believe that Dr. Amen’s findings in his area of expertise are correct, that he is on the cutting edge of his discipline. Are we being objective when we make that assessment? Moreover, are Dr. Amen’s conclusions worthy of belief since he also is a human being and thus suffers from tainted objectivity? I’m being facetious, obviously, but you can see the trap here. Those who say we are “incapable of objectivity” disprove their assertion every time they make the statement. They inadvertently prove the very point they are attempting to refute.
Want to stir up a hornet’s nest? Next time you hear someone say, “Objectivity is impossible,” “There are no absolutes,” or some other such nonsense, simply respond with these three words: “Are you sure?” If they say, “yes,” and believe me, 90% of the people you talk to will, then you can say, “You’re quite right. The truth is incontrovertible. I’m glad you agree with me that human beings can be objective after all.”
Ha, ha. Good one!
What we need is an alien species to decide if humans can be objective. Or maybe robots. Shiney, chrome-plated ones. Surely- not being human- they could objectively decide if humans can be objective.
Alas, T.R. if the robots are designed by tainted humans then they too (the robots) must also be tainted. Of course, since my opinion that the humans and thus the robots are tainted is…uh, well…tainted, it would appear my friend may be right. Notice I didn’t say that he is absolutely right, as that would imply some form of objectivity, which we all “know” I mean…uh, which in all probability is impossible…wait a minute, that means we can’t know anything…or we at least we can’t be certain. Oh crap! If that’s true then we can’t even be certain that we are certain….As my cartoon shows, the one thing the culture is certain of is that we CAN’T be certain, which, of course is complete and utter nonsense. Like Socrates, you end up chasing your tail reductio ad absurdum.
I disagree, Chadly, ole boy. Even if the robots were imperfect, they would still have the possible ability to objectively make a decision about humans, as they themselves are not humans.
Take for example guys and girls. Girls cannot objectively judge how another girl looks- the claws come out in some form or another, due to an inherent competitiveness that all females have.
On the other hand, we guys- not being chicks ourselves- do indeed have the ability to objectively decided which gal looks the best. Why, we objectify women on a daily basis!