Is it ever possible to look at ANYTHING completely objectively?

Question

I would like to be able to look at things, people, and situations in a purely objective manner. However, I'm wondering if this is at all possible, since whether we like it or not, our thoughts tend to be colored by our emotions.

Answer 1

No. Our interpretation of things we see or hear are shaded by out entire life's experience.

One can try to be unbiased, but there is always an unconscious interpretation of events that we are mostly unaware of.

Answer 2

Nice, I like this question, the answer is probably not due to our inability to escape our humanism, but we can certainly try.

To judge anything objectively[sounds obvious] we must remove ourselves from the system upon which we judge. We must have nothing to gain or lose from this judgement, because if we are affected in anyway by the judgement then we are of course considered biased and subjective by default. The difficulty arises when we become subconsciously subjective and thus cannot even tell that we have been biased.

In the[approx] words of the German philosopher Nietzsche:

I wish to move to Africa so I can study Europe.

Answer 3

You can look at things objectively, but you really have to push aside your experiences and beliefs. When you are looking at someone remember you don't know their past so never pass judgement and that's being objective

Answer 4

it's somewhat easier if you have no emotionally vested interest in the object, person, or situation. but again, you do bring your personal experiences with you. so, no, can't be purely objective (we're humans, not machines).

Answer 5

we all have filters we view the world through.. and as such true objectivity does not exist.. however we can condition ourselves to be 'relatively' objective.

Now.. with that being said... Data itself is completely objective... so it is possible to obtain objective information.. but once you process it.. then your filters have been applied.

Answer 6

its really tough to look at things objectively. it requires completely pushing aside your beliefs and experiences, It is really tough, but if you try hard enough you can.