Art of knowing objective from subjective

Is 2+2 = 4 or 5?  It is 4 and that is a fact.

Science is about facts. The sun rises in the East (when you look at the sun from the Earth). This is a scientific fact that cannot be debated.

But, Art – it is subjective. There’s no set way of holding a brush while painting. No one way of creating a sculpture. The color, context, and artwork is an artist’s personal choice. It’s subjective.

The point I’m trying to make here is that both subjective and objective views are important. But they cannot be used interchangeably.

Objective information refers to data and facts, that are not informed by bias. When we objectively view a certain topic, it means we are referring to verifiable facts, data or some irrefutable evidence, and are not influenced by personal feelings or emotions.

On the other hand, subjective views refer to a person’s feelings, emotions or opinions on a certain subject matter. These may or may not be based on facts. They are usually unique interpretations of a particular idea, that can be influenced by factors such as belief system, background, or personal feelings.

Having said that, objective data, such as historical facts can evoke emotions and form the basis of personal opinions, which is subjective.

Both subjective thinking and objective reality are relevant and vital points of consideration. But scientific and objective views must not be interchanged with personal or subjective interpretations.

For instance, it’s a problem if historical facts get portrayed in a subjective or emotional light. By that I mean history books are ideally ways of sharing knowledge about our past. But when this message provokes emotions of anger, jingoism, and hatred for others – it can be problematic.

Encouraging empathy through writing is one thing. But the history books author’s feelings must not distract from the main goal, that is, to convey the social, economic, and political scenario of the past in a factual way. When the author’s feelings or emotions color historical writings, they can no longer be called history. It’s fiction.

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