Objective, Relative, Subjective.

I thought I'd do a segment on Objectivity, Subjectivity and relativity. It annoys me when people get confused between the three of them. This also comes up a lot when one debates morality, and therefore I am going to try and clean up the talk about these three words, before somebody makes another mistake about them.

Firstly, there is objectivism, objective values, or objective whatever. Objectivism is where the scenario does not affect what one should do. Also means not considering opinion or circumstance when considering and representing facts. For example, I believe that it is objectively wrong to use capital punishment.

Then, there is subjectivism, moral subjectivity, or subjective whatever. Subjectivism is where the circumstance is extremely important, the context, the who what where when why and how. For example, I believe that it is wrong to shoot someone, however, I do it when I am playing airsoft (because it doesn't kill or maim) or I'd do it in self-defense.

Finally, there is relativism, moral relativity, or relative whatever. Relativism is where it varies from person to person. This does not mean the "who", as in the article of the action being done to, but who is doing it, and who is judging whether it is acceptable or not. For example, I deem it objectively wrong to use capital punishment, while Vick may find it acceptable on multiple homicide scenarios.

If you haven't noticed, this means something objective can be relative, and something subjective can be relative, they do not contradict. However, something relative cannot be objective, that is axiomatically false. You cannot be always right, depending on the context.

So, I hope that explains it.