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A General Theory of Objectivity: Contributions from the Reformational Philosophy Tradition

Gunton, Richard M; Stafleu, Marinus D; Reiss, Michael J; (2022) A General Theory of Objectivity: Contributions from the Reformational Philosophy Tradition. Foundations of Science , 27 pp. 941-955. 10.1007/s10699-021-09809-x. Green open access

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Abstract

Objectivity in the sciences is a much-touted yet problematic concept. It is sometimes held up as characterising scientific knowledge, yet operational definitions are diverse and call for such paradoxical genius as the ability to see without a perspective, to predict repeatability, to elicit nature’s own self-revelation, or to discern the structure of reality with inerrancy. Here we propose a positive and general definition of objectivity based on work in the Reformational philosophy tradition. We recognise a suite of relation-frames–ways in which things function and relate to each other, which can be analytically distinguished in the process of conceptual abstraction. These relation-frames also ground the diverse aspects of scientific analysis within which relationships and properties may be abstracted from entities and systems. We argue that objectivity can be understood as characteristic of representations that attempt to portray a subject in an earlier relation-frame than that in which it characteristically functions. In short, objectivity is projection. This proposal is exemplified from mathematics and the natural sciences and some possible objections to it are considered, as well as its extension to the social sciences.

Type: Article
Title: A General Theory of Objectivity: Contributions from the Reformational Philosophy Tradition
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1007/s10699-021-09809-x
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10699-021-09809-x
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: Objective, Subjective, Kant, Bias, Relation-frames, Replication, Representation
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10153750
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