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Single Idea 22353

[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 5. Objectivity ]

Full Idea

One conception of objectivity is that the facts are 'out there', and it is the task of scientists to discover, analyze and sytematize them. 'Objective' is a success word: if a claim is objective, it successfully captures some feature of the world.

Gist of Idea

One view says objectivity is making a successful claim which captures the facts

Source

Reiss,J/Spreger,J (Scientific Objectivity [2014], 2)

Book Ref

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.2


A Reaction

This seems to describe truth, rather than objectivity. You can establish accurate facts by subjective means. You can be fairly objective but miss the facts. Objectivity is a mode of thought, not a link to reality.


The 8 ideas from Reiss,J/Spreger,J

One view says objectivity is making a successful claim which captures the facts [Reiss/Sprenger]
An absolute scientific picture of reality must not involve sense experience, which is perspectival [Reiss/Sprenger]
The 'experimenter's regress' says success needs reliability, which is only tested by success [Reiss/Sprenger]
Topic and application involve values, but can evidence and theory choice avoid them? [Reiss/Sprenger]
The Value-Free Ideal in science avoids contextual values, but embraces epistemic values [Reiss/Sprenger]
Value-free science needs impartial evaluation, theories asserting facts, and right motivation [Reiss/Sprenger]
Thermometers depend on the substance used, and none of them are perfect [Reiss/Sprenger]
The Bayesian approach is explicitly subjective about probabilities [Reiss/Sprenger]