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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
08:12
A Psychophysics Paradigm for the Collection and Analysis of Similarity Judgments
Published on: March 1, 2022
Subjective judgements in scientific practice and art
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain. enriqueregidor@hotmail.com
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
|April 22, 2011
Summary
Scientific peer review, intended to ensure objectivity, involves subjective judgments similar to those in art evaluation. This challenges the traditional view of science as purely objective knowledge generation.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- Art Theory
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- The Enlightenment separated art and science, establishing science's goal as objective truth generation.
- Post-20th century discourse acknowledges inherent subjectivity within scientific practice.
Observation:
- The scientific community employs peer review to uphold truth and objectivity.
- Artistic evaluation inherently relies on subjective judgments.
Findings:
- This paper reveals significant parallels between subjective judgments in scientific peer review and those in artistic evaluation.
- Both systems, despite aiming for different outcomes, utilize similar subjective assessment mechanisms.
Implications:
- Challenges the dichotomy between objective science and subjective art.
- Suggests a re-evaluation of objectivity in scientific validation processes.
- Highlights the role of subjective interpretation in knowledge production across disciplines.
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