Objectivity

The question of objectivity is whether human beings are capable of knowing reality just as it is or is there some necessary distortion in our grasp of the nature of things imposed either by the very nature of our cognitive mechanism or by such factors as language, culture, personal ambitions, psychological disorders, and class interests.In this book Professor Machan defends objectivity in philosophy, science and everyday life from its many critics. Objectivity stands in need of a...
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The question of objectivity is whether human beings are capable of knowing reality just as it is or is there some necessary distortion in our grasp of the nature of things imposed either by the very nature of our cognitive mechanism or by such factors as language, culture, personal ambitions, psychological disorders, and class interests.In this book Professor Machan defends objectivity in philosophy, science and everyday life from its many critics. Objectivity stands in need of a defence because it is a difficult ideal to serve, especially in an era of multiculturalism, deconstructionism, feminism and diversity. The most prominent movements in Anglo-American and continental philosophy are against objectivity. Such figures as Richard Rorty and Jacques Derrida unambiguously deny that human beings are capable of knowing the world as it is. This book considers and responds to these and similar challenges to objectivity.