Subiectiv

Subiectiv is an adjective meaning influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions rather than by external facts. In Romanian, as in other languages, it contrasts with obiectiv, which denotes statements or judgments that aim to be independent of the observer and verifiable.

In philosophy and epistemology, subjectivity refers to the conditions under which knowledge is possible, recognizing that perceivers bring concepts, presuppositions, and experiential states to any judgment. The subject is not a neutral observer; rather, experience is partly constructed by cognitive and affective processes. This has implications for debates about objectivity, bias, and truth, with thinkers ranging from Kant and Husserl to contemporary epistemology exploring how perspective shapes what counts as evidence.

In psychology and cognitive science, subjectivity accounts for the role of emotions, memory, and personal history in interpretation, often studied through biases and framing effects. In arts and media, subjectivity is central to interpretation and storytelling; critics, audiences, and authors each construct meaning through a personal lens. The term appears in discussions of subjective judgments, including reviews, opinions, and aesthetic evaluation, where consensus may be elusive.

In cinema and photography, the concept of subjective perspective describes techniques that convey a character’s point of view, such as point-of-view shots that invite the viewer to experience events through a subjective lens.

See also: objectivity, subjectivity, bias, phenomenology.