客観性とは、本質的であり定義の難しい哲学的概念です。自主的に意識して下した判断や、主観を交えずに物事の本質をとらえようする時、それは客観的であると言われます。では客観性が倫理的問題に割り込んだり、世界を真に客観的に説明することは可能なのでしょうか。本書は客観的思考と関係のある理論的問題と、実際的問題の両方を検証し、社会調査や科学から芸術にまで影響を及ぼす客観性とはどういうものであるのかを探り、その可能性を追及します。
   

• Explains a complex philosophical topic and considers all of the key questions involved
• Considers whether true objectivity is achievable and asks whether we are morally obliged to be objective
• Explores the theoretical and practical problems associated with objective thought
• Looks at the way objectivity relates to science, social research, and art

 
- Is objectivity possible?
- Can there be objectivity in matters of morals, or tastes?
- What would a truly objective account of the world be like?
- Is everything subjective, or relative? 
- Are moral judgments objective or culturally relative? 

Objectivity is both an essential and elusive philosophical concept. An account is generally considered to be objective if it attempts to capture the nature of the object studied without judgement of a conscious entity or subject. Objectivity stands in contrast to subjectivity: an objective account is impartial, one which could ideally be accepted by any subject, because it does not draw on any assumptions, prejudices, or values of particular subjects. Stephen Gaukroger shows that it is far from clear that we can resolve moral or aesthetic disputes in this way and it has often been argued that such an approach is not always appropriate for disciplines that deal with human, rather than natural, phenomena. Moreover, even in those cases where we seek to be objective, it may be difficult to judge what a truly objective account would look like, and whether it is achievable. 

This Very Short Introduction demonstrates that there are a number of common misunderstandings about what objectivity is, and explores the theoretical and practical problems of objectivity by assessing the basic questions raised by it. As well as considering the core philosophical issues, Gaukroger also deals with the way in which particular understandings of objectivity impinge on social research, science, and art.