issue157 我们的九月小组-----第二十七次作业

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题目：ISSUE 157 - "There is no such thing as purely objective observation. All observation is subjective; it is always guided by the observer's expectations or desires."
字数：521 (606)         用时：0:45:00          日期：2006-8-24
提纲：
立场：的确，没有纯粹客观的观察。但这不意味着所有的观察都是绝对主观的。
1. 观察包括观察的手段，观察的过程，观察的结果。前两个项目显然是基于人主观选择和想法。因此，观察或多或少都包含主观的成分，不是纯粹客观的。
2.至于观察的结果，可能是主观的看法和判断，也可能是客观的纪录和测量。因此，在有的领域，观察是客观的，而在另一些领域，观察是主观的。因此，并不是所有观察都是主观的。
3.在有的领域如，文学和艺术，需要在观察中融入主观因素。
4.在科研领域，则不同，研究人员需要客观地记录试验现象和结果。
Observation is fraught with our life, work, and study, and almost in every realm observation it has been playing a critical role. Is observation objective or subjective? The issue has always been in controversy for long, and up to now people have not yet come to consensus concerning the problem. I concede that it might be the reality that purely objective observation perhaps does not exist, since the process, approaches, and records of observation more or less have something to do with subjective values, desires, and expectations and so forth. In fact, some degree of subjective attitudes might be necessary in the process of observation, meanwhile in some realms the objective observation is pursued as much as possible.

To begin with, as we know, observation is composed of observational process, observational approach, and observational result. As far as the first two items are concerned, it is understandable that some subjective factors might be involved and result in the impurely objective characteristics of observation, since the approaches and process could be controlled and chosen by the observer individually frequently. For instance, in the scientific experiment, we have various apparatuses for choice to observe the relevant experimental phenomena and perhaps those apparatuses conceive distinctive superiorities. Then the researchers probably choose the appropriate one in terms of the special research purpose. As for experimental process, it is designed by the researchers according the research target and current situation, which might be more subjective. Therefore, due to the wide participating of human being in the process and choice for approach, observation could not be purely objective.

As for the result of the observation, specifically the result could be subjective judgment or view, or some objective measurement or records. Consequently it could be displayed both subjective and objective which depends on the nature and feature of the very fields. Hence, not all observation is absolutely subjective.

In some realms, it is essential to involve subjective thoughts, value and understanding. A persuasive example is the field of art and literature. For instance, if you go to attend the picture show of Van Golf in a gallery, you might need to add your own understanding of the experience and creating purpose of the prominent drawer. Although we can get some information for the autobiography of Van Golf, we are not able to know the entire thing about him, especially the intended significance and meaning he conceived in the pictures. Therefore, when it comes to art, we have to observe those various eminent works through our subjective understandings. The same is true for the field of literature. And individual expectations and desires might help us to absorb the essence of the literature to satisfy our personalized demand. As a result, sometimes in certain fields, there are more subjective factors which are rational and reasonable.

However, still there are some fields the records of observation are strictly required to be objective. For instance, in the clinical test and experiment for the effect of the medicament, the observers must accurately and objectively record down the response of the patients who take the pill, as well as the precise information tested in the process. Any subjective postulation and deduction might do unanticipated harms to the health of patients. In short, in the scientific areas observation should highly respect and describe the reality to objectively reflect the genuine principles.

To sum up, it is true that purely objective observation hardly exist around us, however, it is not necessarily bad news. In some fields like art, literature, we do need add in our subjective value, expectation and desires. However, in other areas objective observation is strictly required and implemented.

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