ABSTRACT
In the conference which generated this paper, the word “objectivity” was used often by the participants. Many of the scientists there claimed that scientists believe in “objective truth” They believe in the existence of an objective reality, and “if you don’t” one of them added, “then you are welcome to take a step off my highrise balcony to test the hypothesis.” Meanwhile, some of the “critics of science” attending the conference were saying things like “science is not objective,” “truth is relative to a social practice” or “scientists are simply the high priests of modernism.” Clearly there was disagreement; on what, however, was not so clear. It was equally clear that the two groups were often talking past one another. So let me begin to try to help clarify where we philosophers tend to begin: with some definitions.
