Understanding Subject and Object in Philosophy

Item 6: Subject and Object

Subject: Philosophy often refers to the subject as the entity that perceives or experiences (subject cognoscente).
Object: The object is that which is aware of the subject. It is aware of and ascertains the contents.

Ideal Objects, Real Objects, and Values

Ideal Objects: These are products of our intelligence that do not exist in reality; they depend on our thinking and our creations.
Real Objects: Objects that represent tangible things in the world.
Values: A third type of object that can be based on real or ideal concepts, but always maintains an essential relationship to humans.

The Three Properties of Experience

The sensitive experience is essential because it is through this that we relate to things that exist. Sensory experience—seeing, hearing, and touch—provides three types of information about reality:

Appearance: This refers to how a thing appears (color, shape, taste, hardness).
Existence: This indicates that a thing exists and is real.
Evidence: Information is presented with such clarity and force that I can lend my assent. I cannot deny what I see; what I experience is evident to me.

Evidence

Doubt: When we cannot comment on the truth or falsehood of a claim.
Suspicion: We have a hunch that something may be true, but we cannot justify that idea.
Opinion: When we give our assent to something, but without complete certainty.
Certainty: Firm adherence to a belief or claim, without fear of making mistakes.

The Criteria of Truth

There are four principles common to all criteria:
Corroboration: A claim must be submitted for corroboration; it must show its strength.
Consistency: The truth must be consistent with itself and with other known truths.
Practical Application: The practical consequences corroborate the truth of a theory. Philosophers called "pragmatists" consider this the most important criterion, but in reality, it is only one of them.
Universality of Evidence: No evidence is private; it cannot be based solely on personal likes or dislikes to establish a truth valid for all.

Uses of Rationality

The "wise use of intelligence" is the effort to implement universally applicable truths. These truths may be theoretical or practical. Therefore, there is both theoretical and practical use of reality:

Theoretical Rationality: This deals with theoretical truths, which can be ideal (mathematics) or real (natural sciences).
Practical Rationality: This concerns practical truths that should guide conduct, particularly ethical truths.