Interpersonal Objectivity Theory

A critical framework arguing that “objectivity” is not a property of individuals or their methods alone, but is achieved and maintained through interpersonal relationships, institutional practices, and social agreements. What counts as objective is what a community agrees to treat as such—through peer review, replication, citation networks, and shared training. Objectivity is therefore a social achievement, not a state of mind. The theory does not deny that the world exists independently, but insists that our access to it and our ability to make objective claims depend on collective practices.

Example: “Interpersonal Objectivity Theory explains why a claim becomes ‘objective’ only after it has passed through the social machinery of journals, conferences, and expert consensus—objectivity is made, not found.”

Interpersonal Objectivity Theory by Dumu The Void March 30, 2026