The aim of this project is to find out whether the notion and the normative ideal of objectivity can be salvaged. In the philosophy of science, the idea that objectivity is something we should strive for has faced harsh criticism. And the philosophers who nevertheless have attempted to defend it, have identified so many different meanings of objectivity that the notion seems not only contested, but also extremely complex conceptually. Many have suggested that we should simply abandon it. However, in practice it matters little whether philosophers stop using the notion or not, as it is used widely in public discourse. Objectivity is often cited as one of the main reasons why science has an epistemically authoritative position in contemporary societies. It would be useful if philosophers of science could provide a good understanding of what it means for something to be objective. In this project I strive to produce such an understanding.

2022

2027