Constructed Objectivity Theory

A sub-theory of constructionism focused specifically on objectivity claims. It argues that objectivity is not a property of things themselves but a label applied to knowledge claims that have been validated through certain social processes (peer review, expert consensus, standardized measurement). The theory shows that objectivity is constructed by communities of practitioners through shared methods, language, and institutions—it is a social achievement, not a given. Understanding how objectivity is constructed helps reveal why it can fail, how it can be biased, and how it can be improved.

Example: “Constructed objectivity theory explains why a drug trial’s results are called ‘objective’ only after passing through a network of protocols, reviewers, and regulatory processes—objectivity is made, not found.”

by Dumu The Void March 23, 2026