Science, and the knowledge it produces, are traditionally viewed as objective. Objectivity refers to the aspiration of corresponding to the object of enquiry, through procedures which are held in common by the scientists and which avoid the influence of subjective factors. Objectivity indicates an ideal that is difficult to realize and several objections have been raised against it. In this paper, I examine three critical works concerning the quest for objectivity in natural sciences, social sciences and history, respectively, in order to decide if the ideal of scientific objectivity continues to be a salient one.
Scientific objectivity; Neutrality of science; Proctor; Novick; Daston; Galison