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This is http://www.essayz.com/a9112142.htm Previous-Essay <== This-Essay ==> Following-Essay Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words. {Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.} ========================================================== %OBJECTIVE REFLEXIVE KNOWLEDGE CONFORMAL SYSTEM SCI 911214 Objective knowledge is essentially conformal knowledge. If a large number of people do not agree that some reality is an objective reality, it is not an objective reality. Objective knowledge entails conformity by a large number of people to one way of viewing reality. An objective "reality" upon which very few people agree is only a hypothetically "real" objective "reality"; even if at a later time in history agreement is reached that the "reality" is in fact authentic in a way which transcends purely subjective considerations. Objective knowledge entails conformity to some systematic way of knowing; a way which is disciplined in accordance with some systematic way of transcending subjective bias. Objective knowledge is not merely a collection of subjective opinions; it must be grounded in procedures which transcend merely subjective perceptions which are not rooted in external realities. People who value objective knowledge to the exclusion of valuing reflexive knowledge are prone to fear truths about themselves which are embarrassing; for they do not know how to deal with reflexive knowledge which they regard as of inferior quality to objective knowledge upon which conformal agreement has been reached. Such people seek conformity with regard to views regarding reflexive truths; and conform in the view that reflexive truths are not reliable. We need to learn how to gracefully deal with the truths about ourselves and about others, truths which we have often found to be embarrassing. Only when we can so cope can we hope to be free to know those truths which embarrass us now. It is dangerous to take for granted that we want to know the truth, that we want to avoid deception. We need to recognize how often we want deception, so as to avoid the truths which we do not know how to deal with. These considerations are important in any effort to find ways to promote creativity in the sciences and in science education; for creativity in such instances is undermined by any failure to integrate objective and reflexive considerations. (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy) ==========================================================