"Because the exploration of opposing views has to be conducted through language, which is fraught with emotional and cultural baggage, it can never be 'objective' in the modern sense." p. 23
While I agree with the point of this quote - that nothing is ever objective - I'm not sure I agree with the implication that objectivity is the end goal. Just because an opinion is inflected by emotions or culture doesn't mean that it's invalid or wrong or not worth considering. How do you think the view of objectivity (real or imagined) impacts modern day social and political discourse?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI react with that quote not as a an ideal that the speaker is trying to achieve objectivity, rather that the objective and subjective have their place in discourse and that there are instances where objectivity needs to be regarded in a different way. I'm not sure the author was trying to imply that it is an unobtainable ideal or as something that may exist in some untapped context.
ReplyDeleteIn a contemporary context, I think persuasive discourse tries to establish objectivity through a subjective approach, and much credence is given to the particulars of these subjective lenses.