Can people look at questions of race etc. objectively?

that's assuming that there is a certain objective truth that is not created by human experience, createed in a vacuum. everything that we discuss or think of - including the notion of "race" is constructed from our experiences. people are not naturally born knowing of races - there is no such thing until humans create those groupings and labels. therefore, all of the ideas about race, etc. are colored by what we have learned from others and our experiences.

Race is an emotional and not a rational issue. Very difficult to discuss in an empathetic manner. You always have your life experiences that taint the picture.

As an example....

Affirmative action is a race based issue. Conceptually, it is there to help level a playing field that had been skewed for years. I now have children that could be negatively impacted by affirmative action (like getting bypassed by college admissions). I cannot discuss affirmative action without thinking about the potential negative impact that it could have on my family. Note that I did not say i am against AA, just that I have some more food for thought

This is really an interesting question that Angelsilverstar has asked.

Even more interesting are the two answers by DISCOUPAR and EMMMONKEY who both say "it is impossible to answer any question without being influenced by your own experience".

So I asked a couple of retired writers I know, one with 50 years in newspaper work and the other who has written sociology and human behaviour texts and has been paid up to $250,000 for commission writing.

Both of them said that early on in their "reporter" days they were taught by older mentors to "purge their own feelings completely, if they were ever to become objective journalists". When I asked how they accomplished this they replied " Over the years and with lots of experience it was possible to approach a scene, such as a murder, a fire or a union fight with a completely OPEN mind.

" I would put a neutral but pleasant and inquiring look on my face, pencil and pad in hand and walk into a situation, choosing one person after another and ask them " Could you tell me just what is going on here?" or " How do you feel about the situation here?" or " Is there anything you could tell me that I could tell my readers about what is going on here this morning?"

One of the writers told me " They were going to hang this black man and I got a chance to talk to him. I asked him, " I've read in the paper what you were convicted of doing. Is there something you would like the world to know, something that has not been said about you, about your own feelings?" The man began to talk (into my tape recorder) and the result later when it was published caused more public comment than all of the news at the trial. There were even public meetings held to discuss the man's last words, which were so revealing and contrary to what was generally believed that a new trial was ordered and the man eventually realeased from prison !"

I doublt I culd have done that if I had had ANY OPINION of my own, he told. me. I had to be objective. That man was neither black, nor white. He was neither guilty nor innocent. He was just a human in a certain situation. I had no feelings whatsover as to his status.

.........................

Back to my own answer to Angel's question, I have read about Muslins and Arabs and understand the Islamic rules of law and religion. They are completely different than my bringing up as a white Scottish Presbyterian but I can honestly say that I have absolutely NO PREJUDICE

to those who have different belief systems.

In my city I know how Jews think and behave, I know how Japanese and Germans behave and think and I know how Islamic people think and behave. How could I possibly pass judgment on any race or behaviour ?

Nothing could be more different than the answers I read in this forum than mine ! But in my 500 answers with 118 of them being classified as BEST ANSWERS you won't find ONE of them as being racist. Forgive me for saying that I think I am 100 % objective and if anyone disagrees, then that is OK as well. I respect their opinion and would enjoy hearing even more about how wrong I am. How elese can I learn and grow?

Personally speaking, I can only draw from experiences with these types of questions. It doesn't serve any use to try and answer a question about something you have never been through, or have no idea about.

I think we can try and be objective, and for the most part, many of us are; however, we are still products of our environment and our experiences, which will no doubt have a play in our decisions/judgments. However, by being aware of our own bias or perspective, we are more able to achieve the objectivity we are looking for.

Your question is basically an outline of the difference between modernity and postmodernity. Postmodern theorists argue that we cannot do anything objectively- that we can only see things from our perspective. But that doesn't mean our perspective cannot be enhanced by coming into contact with the perspectives of others. So talk to as many different people as you can about as many different subjects as you can!

we always draw from our experiences, beliefs, cultures because that is what makes our opinions..... it doesnt just have to be about race, its life experiences and who you are...

no, your perspective on a subject as sensitive as race is impossible to ignore (good or bad).

It depends on the question

You can ask that about any question.