Reference: Course on Subject Clearing
When Kant came along he introduced the idea of “object-in-itself” that is beyond experience. This influenced the definitions of the following words:
Objective
Origin: “something thrown down or presented (to the mind).” Objective is something that belongs to the object of thought. It is something clearly graspable visibly and intellectually and, therefore, considered factual. It is not subject to personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice. Example: an objective opinion.
After Kant the definition of “Objective” was corrupted by some to mean “an absolute form of object that is beyond intellectual grasp.”
Subjective
Origin: “to throw or place beneath.” Subjective is something that belongs to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought. It pertains to the characteristic of an individual. It is subject to personal feelings, interpretations, prejudice or speculation. Example: a subjective speculation.
After Kant the definition of “Subjective” was corrupted by some to mean “all things grasped by the mind.”
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Kant was basically talking about the “Unknowable”.
Unknowable
That, which is before the beginning of the universe. It cannot be known because it is not manifested. It is different from “unknown,” which is something manifested but not known.
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The Unknowable cannot be differentiated any further because it is unknowable. It cannot be defined as “absolute form of an object” because that would simply be speculation, and that speculation would exist in the mind.
So, the later (post-Kant) interpretations of Objective and Subjective are inherently inconsistent.
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Summary
“Unknowable” and “Knowable” is the first level of categorization. Then under Knowable, we have objective and subjective as the second level of categorization. Unknowable, being unknowable, cannot be equated with anything. So you cannot equate objective with unknowable. When you make the error of equating objective with unknowable, then you also make the error of equating subjective with everything knowable, making this second level categorization useless.
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