objectivity
pepper mark r (mrpepp@MAIL.WM.EDU)
Sat, 7 Oct 1995 14:32:42 LCL
In response to Jeff Prideaux:
I would like to put forward the idea that objectivity is a
possible frame of reference for an individual & not a hypothetical or
imaginary state of conciousness.
Objectivity is the ability of a person to see things the way they
really are. In this sense one must be able to see ALL things as they
really are. It is not possible to isolate one fragment of the whole
and say I fully understand this, but nothing else. One must
understand all things as they really are & in relation to everything
else. You cannot see the forest for the trees, but you can see the
trees for the forest. If this were not true, we would be stuck with
the uncomfortable position that fundamentalism is correct in taking
their support out of context from whatever reference they are quoting
(be it the Bible, the Qoran, or other).
Subjectivity is the natural state of man's consciousness. From
birth (whether you're a Freudian or Piagetian or ?) the world is
explored & interpreted by experience. The older we get we can rely
to some extent on the experience of others. This is all practically
good, but it does not delve deep into the reality of the world. The
world is diagnosed only in relation to ourselves & few people ever
get passed the idea that somehow all of this has been created for the
sole end - humanity. Psychologists are puzzled by the reaction of
people to looking at the night sky or the universe & having acute
anxiety over the notion that they are insignificant & meaningless.
My personal opinion is that is the point where reality is begun to be
understood & objectivity begins. What am I in the context of this
entire creation? If one can come to terms with this question in a
satisfactory way, then could not objectivity develop as a result. The
ego has been purged & the universe is regarded only in relation to
itself & not what does it mean to me.
I hope you find this challenging enough to consider it further.
Marko Pepper.
Name: Mark R Pepper
Address: mrpepp@mail.wm.edu
Graduate Student (Special Education) College of William & Mary
Home: 128 Patrick Henry Drive Williamsburg VA 23185
Phone: 804-229-7380