objectivity (philosophy)

The word objectivity admits at least two related meanings in philosophy.

Metaphysical objectivity

To say that an entity exists objectively means that its existence and nature do not depend on anyone's awareness of it. The table at which I am sitting exists "objectively" because it would still exist and it would still be what it is even if no one were aware of it. See also metaphysical objectivism.

Epistemic objectivity

Objectivity, as an epistemic virtue, is the recognition that objects and events are independent of one's perceptions of them, or one's personal feelings, opinions and beliefs. It is thus opposed to subjectivity. Such objectivity is generally regarded as essential to science, to philosophy, and to justice (see scientific method.) When a lawyer assessing the fitness of a potential juror asks "Can you be objective in judging the facts of this case?", it is this sense of the word objectivity that is being used.

Metaphysical versus epistemic

The importance of this distinction between metaphysical and epistemic objectivities appears in the philosophy of mind. John Searle has written that the fact that consciousness is subjective does not mean that one cannot study it by epistemically objective means. The feeling that the contrary is the case, Searle has written, results from confusion between metaphysical objectivity and epistemic objectivity.

Objectivism

Metaphysical objectivism holds that the universe exists objectively. That should not be confused with Ayn Rand's systematic philosophy called Objectivism, which distinguishes among three views that it characterizes as intrinsic, subjective, and objective.

Psychometric objectivity

In psychometrics a measure is objective to the extent to which different users estimate the same value when they use it. The extent of agreement and the likelihood that it is non-random can be estimated mathematically.