Objectivity

Catalog description

Associated with both the true and the good, objectivity has been variously understood as rationality, certainty, neutrality, justice, and fairness. Disciplines as diverse as the sciences, philosophy, politics, and journalism have privileged objectivity as a value. Yet what exactly does objectivity mean, and whose knowledge or perspective possesses this quality? What does it mean to speak of objective knowledge, objective morality, or objective judgment? In this course, we will examine the history of objectivity and its various disciplinary permutations by looking at texts both ancient and modern. In so doing, we will gain a unique perspective on the development of the Western intellectual tradition and the current ways that we assess information, make judgments, and produce new knowledge. Offered as HSTY 344 , HSTY 444 , and HPSC 344 . Counts as a Disciplinary Communication course. Counts as a Moral & Ethical Reasoning course.