The "Everything is Subjective" Argument

Some thoughts on people who claim everything is subjective.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• objectivism
• subjectivism
• metaphysics
• epistemology
• knowledge
• psychology
• motivation
• logic
• reason
• performative
• contradiction

[CerebralPrince10]

The point is everything is subjective. Even the statement "everything is subjective" is subjective. Objectivity is a societal construct created so that we have order. We make "objective" rules like 1+1=2 so that we can accomplish things as a society

[XOmniverse]

@CerebralPrince10 Then my subjective experience is that things are not subjective, and you are unable to refute that since everything is subjective and my subjective perception of objective reality is not objectively condemnable.

Even the assumption that "objective" rules accomplish things is subjective right? If everything is subjective, I could reject the utility of such rules and you would be left without a means of defending them.

[CerebralPrince10]

@XOmniverse

you are right, based on your subjective reality, the same way I am right. You are also right when you say "objective rules" accomplish things is subjective. Heck if you said that George Washington killed Saddam Hussein you could be right, according to whatever you choose to be your subjective reality. Objectivity is just a societal construct used to deal with the fact the subjectivity is based on the individual (according to my subjective experience :-))

[XOmniverse]

@CerebralPrince10 But in my subjective reality, you are wrong and you have no argument that you are right. Your own argument gives me no reason whatsoever to actually accept your viewpoint, since the implication is that I have no reason not to go on my merry way assuming things are objective and that you are wrong.

[catman1233]

@XOmniverse I think that what people mean by "subjective" is that there is no absolute truth or something. I don't really understand it myself but I'm very open minded on the subject.

[captainconflict64]

Your walls are bare, no decorations. You do not feel at home in the room you are "living in." That's what bothers me.

[TheEthanwashere]

Eh... Nihilism not subjectivism

[EllipticalKnives]

The subjective-objective dichotomy, seen as opposite poles, is a never-ending debate. There are fewer problems, I believe, with a paradigm that views this thing we call "objectivity" as focused subjectivity. Currently, I'm attempting to write a paper about the superiority of this subjective paradigm, so I would appreciate any comments about this particular viewpoint.

[sbdwch]

If everything is subjective and I believe it is, wouldn't it make me want to convince others of my beliefs even more, since, being able to change others' opinions would indeed, in a way, change, in a meaningful way, reality, as it would be mind dependant...

[ChristiansKillPeople]

One last thing. The statement everything is subjective just elaborates on the science based statement "It's all relative." Everything is subjective is better described as "everything is relative to the subject." On the individual level it's opinion. On social levels it is right/wrong. That's the best I can do in character limited comments.

[ChristiansKillPeople]

Everything is subjective. People seem to misinterpret what that statement means because they do not understand the word subjective. It does not claim reality does not exist or nothing is real. There are objective realities and rights/wrongs, however they are subject to a specific system of thought or science, etc. That's what the statement is getting at. Religion is the only system that claims to be objective outside of its own subjective realm.

[nneevveerrmmoorree]

Great post ..you completely OWNED that guy on FB..Im in the midst of a similar debate which Im winning handily BTW

[Anarchy00094]

I believe that everything is subjective but if he did use it like you said he did it's the bitch way out. Take Descartes' dream argument for example our senses are fallible ergo any evidence we gather using them can't be considered objective evidence. But for the any conversation to have any meaning whatsoever you need to make a set of assumptions and accept them as true. There may very well be an objective reality but It is beyond human understanding.

[CerebralPrince10]

Oh and way to categorize all those who believe that everything is subjective :-P

I genuinely deep down believe that everything is subjective. Everything is subjective, but that does not imply anything about the nature of the objective. Things can be both subjective and objective. Granted it really doesn't matter if something is subjective and/or objective and the seperation between the two is merely illusionary, but it is fun to argue about.