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

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