The Three Ways To Identify Subjectivity

Subjectivity does not signify total absence of objective knowledge.  After all, even knowing that one does not or cannot know something is itself knowledge!  It is logically true that subjectivity is an objective component of all consciousness, including that of God [1], just as it is true that one's subjective perceptions are a part of reality to be explored with reason, albeit a part that may be disconnected from other parts of reality in some way.

Since even shared perceptions do not change the fact that perception is inherently subjective, no one needs to consult other people to discover the subjectivity of various experiences.  The most autonomous way to discover subjectivity is to introspectively reason out that any perception that does not prove the nature of the objective truths behind it is purely subjective.  To do so, one must reject the assumptions that memory, the senses, aesthetic perceptions, and conscience have to reflect objective reality as it is.

A careful thinker could identify at least some of these subjective perceptions shortly after deciding to contemplate everything anew without making assumptions.  It is nevertheless true that the social aspects of human life are relevant here.  Simply talking to other people reveals that many people claim to have conflicting perceptions of everything from color to moral feelings to beauty, and reason reveals that perceptions are subjective even if the same perceptions were universal.  All the same, conflicting perceptions are only possible if they are indeed subjective.

However, in one sense, this only provides mere evidence that perceptions are not shared and that they do not necessarily overlap with the reality beyond them--unless one can see into other minds (if they exist in the first place) and see whatever truths about values and the external world are beyond one's grasp, one cannot know their perceptions with absolute certainty.  One can only know what one means by one's own words, not the exact intended meaning of someone else's words.  The seeming meaning of someone's words is knowable, but language is not a true bridge into other minds.

Even if a person had no access to language or social interaction, he or she would still be able to notice potential changes in their emotions, preferences, and perceptions over time.  In this way, they could realize that these malleable aspects of their experiences are subjective and do not necessarily reflect the reality beyond them.  It is not necessary to wait until one's experiences change to recognize the subjectivity of experience (as opposed to the objectivity of logic), but it is an epistemological option.

There is no fourth way to demonstrate that a subjective perception is subjective.  Any attempt to do so reduces down to at least one of the three aforementioned methods, and might even involve more than one.  It is ultimately far from difficult to prove to oneself that perceptions are subjective even though they either do or do not objectively reflect reality outside of one's mind.


[1].  https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2019/07/subjectivity-in-divine-mind.html