We explain what something subjective is, its importance and its differences from what is objective. Furthermore, objective law and subjective law.
What is something subjective?
In Western philosophy, the notions of object (that which is real, external, concrete) and subject (that which is internal, sensible, abstract) have been opposed in different ways, and therefore also those of objectivity and subjectivity. The first would be what is linked to the object, that is, the objective; and the second would be what is linked to the subject, that is, the subjective.
These concepts are present in the language, that is, in the very way of thinking: we call subject the person who performs the action of the sentence, and object the elements involved (direct object: the one who receives the action; indirect object: the one who receives the action). benefits from it; circumstantial object: who describes the context, etc.).
The important thing is that, according to this way of thinking about things, the experience of the world is divided into these two terms: the objective, which is the same regardless of who perceives it, and the subjective, which It is that which depends on the internal considerations of the person who perceives it, and therefore can vary from one individual to another.
The distinction between the objective and the subjective has been a subject of study in philosophy since ancient times, and more recently in sociology, psychology and other scientific disciplines. In everyday speech, however, these terms are used without much problem, as synonyms for “absolute” and “relative”, respectively.
When we claim, for example, that a journalist or a newspaper story lacks objectivity, we mean that his description of what happened is not neutral, but is highly influenced by personal factors: the journalist's position on the matter, political affinities of the newspaper in which we read it, the ulterior motives behind the note, etc.
Well, all of this belongs to the realm of the subjective, that is, the personal, the debatable, what belongs to a specific point of view. Naked facts, on the other hand, without interpretations, are objective in nature: they are the same no matter in which newspaper we read them.
What does it mean to “be subjective”?
Everyday We use the term subjective as a synonym for personal, partial, flawed, having interests in the matter in question; that is, the complete opposite of something objective (neutral, impartial, impersonal).
Thus, when we accuse someone of being subjective when exposing a topic, we are accusing them of not approaching it with sufficient distance from themselves, and of confusing (intentionally or accidentally) their opinions, their points of view, their personal biases, with facts and objective reality.
Depending on the context, each person's subjectivities must be kept safe.or expose oneself frankly, without disguises. The opposite can be interpreted as an attempt to manipulate others, to influence their opinions and advocate for one's own point of view.
From journalism, science and other similar disciplines, objective performance is expected, that is, free of interpretations, consisting of verifiable facts. An experiment, for example, will yield an objective result, regardless of what the scientist performing it thinks about it.
On the other hand, fields of knowledge such as The arts, history, philosophy, public opinion and the like depend on a certain subjectivity of interpretation.. That is why opinions, passions, and points of view have a place.
This does not mean, however, that in these disciplines knowledge is always relative and nothing can be stated, but rather that it must be done through arguments, that is, by convincing others of the viability of one's own point of view.
Difference between subjectivity and objectivity
As we have said before, subjectivity and objectivity differ in the following:
- The subjective has to do with the subjects, the objective with the objects.. That is to say, the first has to do with people, the second with reality.
- The subjective is variable, debatable and argumentative, while the objective is self-evidentobvious and verifiable.
- The subjective depends on the inner world of the individuals, while what is objective depends on the outside world. For this reason, the same objective fact can be interpreted from several subjective points of view.
- The subjective is multiple, the objective is unique..
Objective law and subjective law
In the legal field, there is also the distinction between objective and subjective law, and it is a central distinction within the very concept of what law is.
It is possible, thus, understand the law objectively, when we consider it as a set of rules and laws to follow (positive law and natural law), whose existence implies an obligation, a series of duties that are universal for all citizens who live in a nation and share the same legal system.
That is the objective right. For example, traffic laws are clear and universal, no matter who is behind the wheel of a car. They are objective.
But at the same time, The law has a subjective and individual dimension, which grants people the capacity to act against the law according to their free will, that is, it confers powers on them. These subjective faculties are:
- Freedom, given that a person can act as they please as long as they do not carry out actions that are punishable or prohibited by law.
- Can, given that a person can carry out certain legal acts within their reach (such as buying, selling, signing a contract, suing someone, etc.).
- Claimgiven that a person can demand compliance from others with certain duties or obligations established by law.
Thus, subjective right is one that grants the individual the possibility (not the obligation) to carry out certain legal actions, and whose legitimacy comes from the consensus of society itself, that is, from the social agreement of coexistence and the necessary rule of law. the laws.
References
- “Subjectivity” on Wikipedia.
- “Subjective, va” in the Dictionary of the language of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Subjectivity and objectivity” by Carlos Oliva Mendoza in the Ibero-American Dictionary of Philosophy of Education.
- “Objective right and subjective right” (video) in Educatina.
- “Subjectivity” in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
