Difference Between Objective and Subjective

Objective and subjective are two different words used to rate the way reality are been describe. Objective could be termed as anything related to object and its reality while subjective, on the other hand, is related to the observing subject and the way of perceiving the reality of an object.

The difference between objective and subjective is the fact that objective is independent of a person’s emotions, while subjective is related to the feelings and points of view of the person.

An example of objective is that vaccines save more lives than the side effects they can cause. Subjective is that many people reject them because of an unfounded fear in the pharmaceutical industry.

Thus we have that the facts are objective while the opinions are subjective. For example, “Kylie left a balance of material losses in the order of 100 million dollars in Galicia” is an objective statement, it is a fact that is being presented. On the other hand, “Kylie sadly bathed the December celebrations in Galicia” is a subjective assessment, someone is expressing their opinion regarding a fact.

Objective vs Subjective – What are the Differences?

Objective | Definition of Objectives

Objective refers to what is specific to the object and is valid for everyone. It can be measured or appreciated without the intervention of the subject’s opinion. For example, a mountain measuring 8000m is objective, no matter what you think of it.

The word “objective” comes from the Latin obiectus which means “to put ahead“. It is used synonymously with impartial or neutral. When something or someone is objective, it shows the facts or things as they are. For example, an objective indicator of career success might be a promotion or job promotion.

The quality of objective is objectivity, the condition that something is valid for everyone, regardless of individual point of view. Through objectivity, the object is presented as it is, devoid of the presenter’s preferences or opinions. It is the ideal of scientific research because it allows to present the facts in a verifiable way.

Objectivity can be manifested in different ways, such as, for example, in language and in the type of knowledge that is generated from it.

Objective Language

An objective language is neutral, it does not lean or favor any interpretation. It is the preferred language in academic and scientific publications.

An example of objective language is: “the flowers are yellow with 5 petals attached at the base.” In this case, a non-judgmental description of a flower is made.

Objective Knowledge

Objective knowledge is that precise stored information that someone possesses about a matter. It directly reflects what we know.

Objective knowledge can be assessed through questionnaires on a topic. This is a measure of the true information that the person has on that subject.

For example, a study on the approval of the edible use of recycled water evaluated the objective knowledge of a population about the processing of wastewater to make it drinkable.

Subjective | Definition of Subjectives

Subjective refers to what is intrinsic to the individual, his way of thinking, his conscience, his preferences, experiences and judgments. For example, one person may find a meal delicious while another dislikes it. In this case we are facing a subjective appreciation of a dish.

The word “subjective” comes from Latin word which means “to depend on something else“. In this sense, the subjective belongs to the subject, it is not observable and is colored by the particular circumstances of each person.

The subjective quality is the subjectivity, condition or character that is attributed to individual mental processes. It is inherent to the human condition, making it difficult to detach from it in certain situations, such as in artistic appreciation, opinion journalism, and law enforcement.

As such, subjectivity can be present in the way we express ourselves through language and how we demonstrate our knowledge.

Subjective Language

Subjective language is inclined to favor the point of view of the user. It is the language that is applied in artistic or opinion literary expressions.

An example of subjective language such as “the beautiful yellow flowers” or “the boring yellow flowers” refers to someone who either likes yellow flowers or not.

Subjective Knowledge

Subjective knowledge is the perception that an individual has about what he knows about something. It is a reflection of what we think we know. This is applied to address the confidence that a person has about their knowledge about a certain topic.

Subjective awareness is addressed through questions such as “how much do you know about this? To what extent do you know?” whose answers can be in a range between “I don’t know anything” or “I know everything about this“.

Subjective knowledge is used in some areas to determine the degree of acceptance of a product or service. For example, a person’s subjective knowledge of the scientific basis for a drug can affect their confidence in it.