Reflection on Extreme Subjectivism

Subjectivism is, by definition, the story we tell ourselves and the way we choose to interact with the objective world. Some stories are held with such a conviction and by such a number of people that it can create the illusion of being Objective. This phenomenon can be observed throughout history. The most common example is religion. It is important to make this distinction from the get-go, as it is one of the fallacies that hold us back from truly having a deep discussion on the subject. This fallacy can be called "the subjective objectivization fallacy." In simple words, it is the idea that if enough people believe that something is true by itself, it makes it true. This can explain why, in our current age, there is a need for people to censor other opinions or shout the loudest opinions.

In numerous conversations, I had recently, the topic of Objectivism came up and ended what could have been a very meaningful conversation. Subjectivism became the hallmark of the West. Sometimes, disguised as liberalism and some other times as self-justification for actions we all knew until yesterday were wrong. Sentences such as "everything is subjective" and "Nothing is really objective in life" are a form of what I call "Extreme subjectivity." As a person who delved into the debt of Nihilism, I can tell that extreme subjectivism is somehow a positive version of Nihilism. Instead of saying – There is no meaning, people moved to – There is no objectivity. It is less depressive and allows detachment from any accountability or social responsibility.

Extreme subjectivity is very concerning as Objectivism is the essence of our capacity to cooperate and hold the key to personal sanity. Moreover, at its core, objectivism is what allows us to cooperate and feel true empathy towards others. As I will argue later, I came to believe that the rise of subjectivism is mainly a defence mechanism for many lost people who do not know what to believe in and who to trust. By adopting subjectivism, they allow themselves to justify and validate their fear and anxiety toward the world around them and their inner world. As I mentioned previously, Subjectivism is just the story we tell ourselves. In many ways, extreme subjectivity reflects a lack of story. It is a syndrome of people who lose belief and do not find a solid reality to hold onto. By adopting this philosophy, a defence mechanism is built first toward the world and then towards one own feeling.

Before delving into the reason for the rise in subjectivism and its outcomes, I would start by proving simply that Objectivism exists and that subjectivism, at its core, cannot exist without Objectivism. At its essence, subjectivism is a byproduct of Objectivism. Never the other way around. I will not argue at any point that there is nothing subjective. Oppositely, a big part of our inner world is subjective. It is part of consciousness and human existence. Regardless, Objectivity is the base of life and the human experience. It is only because Objectivism exists that subjectivism could develop in the first place. The belief that nothing is objective or that subjectivity is at the core of everything is not only wrong but also very dangerous. Lies require Objectivity to lean on. Lies can be invented only because we agree on some basic ideas or events. Language is based on Objectivity as it requires we all agree on what we describe when using words. Relationships require it as well. Without trust, we will never be able to establish relationships. Shockingly, trust cannot exist without a fundamentally objective environment we agree upon.

For those who lack patience, here is the conclusion of this article- Subjectivism, in essence, is interpretation. It is the story we tell ourselves. At the core of subjectivism exists a deep requirement for Objectivism. As interpretation needs events to happen in the first place. Everything that has to do with explanation, opinion, or ideas is subjective. Our inner world is an endless interpretation mechanism, making it subjective at its core. Regardless, no interpretation can exist without actual events, and no real-life events need interpretation to happen or evolve in the first place. Extreme subjectivism is created from a lack of frame or data.

A simple example will be as follows – If we are to observe a single ball floating in empty space, all we will be able to say is that there is a ball and that it is floating (objective reality). We cannot say if it is moving or in which direction, as we are missing a frame of reference. By introducing a second ball into the empty space and making them move slowly toward each other, different people will interpret the movement of one of the balls differently. Some people will say both of the balls are moving, some will say that only one is moving, and others will say that the other is moving (this is subjective). From the moment a third ball fixed in space is introduced, we will directly go back to Objectivism, as the directional movement will be clear by having three balls.

Now, let's start with proving the undeniable existence of Objectivism. First and at the most basic level, Objectivism can be defined as an external truth that will remain so regardless of who perceives it and his interpretation. It is a fact (very important word here) that is undeniable and predates any interpretation (Interpretation at its core is a subjective explanation of fact). Let's start with the most obvious examples of Objectivism. We are all born into this world and die at a certain point. Theories about where we come from, where we go after, and the potential of all of this being a simulation do not contradict this objective fact. Gravity is another objective fact. Since we remember ourselves on this earth, when we let something go in mid-air, it falls to the ground. The explanation of how or why is not relevant to this objective truth. The last example I will use for the most basic level of objectivity is that we all wake up in the morning regardless of our wishes or efforts. This is true for all animals on earth.

Just to reinforce the fact that objectivity exists, let's name a few other first-level examples – We all have a body, we need water and oxygen to survive, the fire burns, water is wet, we grow older and not younger, A lion is physically stronger than us, a cheetah run faster than us, we are all having a shared experience, there is a limit to the strength we can use in any given moment and time, we cannot physically be in two separate physical locations simultaneously, We cannot pass through walls, alcohol, and coffee affect our body, and finally I'm not you, and you are not me (It is a basic definition – we will arrive to it later on)

It is very important to separate the concepts of interpretation and objectivity. Having multiple possible explanations or none does not make something less Objective. It means our collective consciousness didn't come into agreement about the phenomenon. One of the most important things about first-level objectivity is that it is above the human capacity to explain it and doesn't need it to start with. I hope that at this point, we can start to agree that objectivity exists. If one still insists objectivity doesn't exist, it probably reflects an inner struggle of the person with his own pain rather than anything close to an intelligent, truthful conversation.

The essence of learning is based on Objectivism. It is a process in which one acts and adjusts based on external feedback. Babies learn how to speak by getting positive feedback from their surroundings. Any hypothesis requires external validation. It is a fundamental truth in the human experience. Social cues are part of this process. A person who decides to dress strangely will immediately get feedback from his friend (if he has any real one). Our capacity to be good at something is evaluated by the grade and acceptance of our society, based on an objective comparison. It is just how it works. Now, to be clear, the feedback we get in many cases is based on the subjective opinion of other individuals, which doesn't make the feedback by itself an objective truth. Practically, it is the act of feedback that can be defined as objective, while the content of the feedback can sometimes be subjective. The last statement is proof of the existence of objectivity and the line between objectivity and subjectivity without cancelling each other. For those of you willing to delve into more philosophical arguments, I will add that subjectivity is an objective human experience.

At this point, we can all agree that not everything is subjective. As you can see, it is not an argument that takes too long to prove or too much intellectual power. Regrettably, many people in the West still hold onto their beliefs even after being confronted with these simple arguments. As it bothered me greatly, I think that "Why?" is an unavoidable question that needs to be asked. The answer to this question is part of the solution for many social problems I raised and will continue to talk about in my blog. It is a phenomenon that should not be ignored, as it represents one of the biggest problems we face in the West. The simple answer is that we lost trust. The mixture of hyper information online, with the miserable performance of our politicians, institutions, and economists, broken family structures, and globalization that do not benefit its people are all part of what creates the "Extreme subjectivism crisis."

Young people are subjective in their essence. They cannot perceive a world in which they are not in its center. The raging hormones, lack of experience, and the brain's unfinished development all play a part in it. For young adults, adopting subjectivity is the default. Objectivity at this stage is adopted by many young adults when it proves to work and is favorable for them. To get over this notion, many young people need a trustful and guiding system that will walk them through the process of accepting objectivism or a terrible misfortune that shows them how much objectivity there is in life regardless of what they wish and believe in. They need a guide and help to make them not only accept but also understand what to do with a world in which their subjectivity means little in real terms. It seems that one of the processes that involves passing from childhood to adulthood involves a process in which a person understands the boundaries between subjectivity and objectivity. It is a process that allows people to agree on the general terms of the game we are all playing. An understanding that feelings are a subjective experience that shouldn't always be acted upon. This process is what allows society to function and a general framework of trust to be built.

The growing extreme subjectivity movement can be seen as a refusal of many young adults to grow up and a regression of many adults who lost trust in their beliefs. As I mentioned, I believe this movement is a cry for help on a societal level. It is the lack of new heroes, the demonization of our old ones, and the broken value system in the West that prevent people from handling the uncomfortable truth that the world is indifferent to their interpretation. In their book –"The Coddling of the American Mind", Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt explain that it is our wish to protect our kids that raised a generation of people that cannot handle life and its requirements. I will add that it is a broken system of values and the lack of tools available today that hinder this important step.

Extreme subjectivism is a reflection of our breaking society. Not because we don't have enough, but because we are having too much. In my conversation about individualism, I showed the terrible effect of the belief that society's main purpose is to serve individuals' self-fulfillment. These two topics are directly related to each other. They both reflect the lack of capacity of individuals to integrate in an healthy manner into society. There is a lot to be said about the fact that governments and the state of most economies in the last 20 years were not favorable toward their individuals. That trust in our "Expert" system broke down in the last 5 years, and an optimistic approach toward the future is hard to maintain. Regardless, hiding behind extreme subjectivism is not the answer we currently need. It is a retracement of all participants into themselves, bringing the degradation of trust, healthy collaboration, and elimination of the tools needed to create a better future.

Life is hard, unfair, and sometimes beyond our capacity to understand. It is just how it is. On the other side, this world we are living in is a world that allows us to build, collaborate, and prosper if we choose to do the hard work. The first step in the path is to agree on fundamental ideas such as where we are, what we are doing, what our goal is, and how we call things. It is our objective commonalities that unite us. It is the objective world that teaches us and the basic understanding we share that builds trust. Understanding the relationship between Objectivism and subjectivism is a crucial step we need to take. Without it, collaboration and trust cannot exist. The consequences of choosing to stay in such a predicament are clear – Instead of working together on bringing us all a better future, we will continue screaming in fear at each other, arguing about questions as "What is a woman?". And between us….who in his correct mind really wants that?