[f. SUBJECTIVE + -ITY. So mod.L. subjectivitas, G. subjectivität, F. subjectivité.]
1. Consciousness of one’s perceived states.
1821. Coleridge, in Blackw. Mag., X. 249. In the object, we infer our own existence and subjectivity.
1874. Sayce, Compar. Philol. vii. 287. The idea of life, and therefore of subjectivity, is put out of sight.
1885. J. Martineau, Types Eth. Th., I. I. xi. § 8. 211. They forbid us to appropriate to our own subjectivity the intelligent acts of which we are conscious.
b. A conscious being.
1830. Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1838), III. 1. The Identity. The absolute subjectivity, whose only attribute is the Good.
1840. W. H. Mill, Applic. Panth. Princ., I. 103. Individuals stand as ‘the subjectivities that realize the substantial’ of the Idea.
2. The quality or condition of viewing things exclusively through the medium of one’s own mind or individuality; the condition of being dominated by or absorbed in one’s personal feelings, thoughts, concerns, etc.; hence, individuality, personality.
[1812. Southey, Omniana, I. 220. The nature of Bulls, which will be found always to contain in them a confusion of (what the Schoolmen would have called) Objectivety and Subjectivety, in plain English, the impression of a thing as it exists in itself and extrinsically, with the idea which the mind abstracts from the impression.]
1827. Hare, Guesses (1859), 97. Often … the plural we is … a help to those who cannot get quit of their subjectivity, or write about objects objectively.
1844. W. G. Ward, Ideal Chr. Ch. (ed. 2), 79. The vast increase of what is called subjectivity; the very much greater portion of man’s life and interest which is occupied in observation of his own thoughts, feelings, and actions.
1871. R. H. Hutton, Ess., I. 248. ‘Subjectivity,’ as it is called, clouds the eyes; we want to know how far our own individual deficiencies, and sins, and impulses, colour our vision.
1880. E. C. Stedman, in Scribner’s Mag., XX. 117/2. His [Poe’s] studies of character were not made from observation, but from acquaintance with himself; and this subjectivity, or egoism, crippled his invention.
1886. Pater, Ess. fr. Guardian (1896), i. 11. This pioneer [Steele] of an everybody’s literature had his subjectivities.
b. That quality of literary or graphic art that depends on the expression of the personality or individuality of the artist; the individuality of an artist as expressed in his work.
1830. Coleridge, Table T., 12 May. A subjectivity of the poet, as of Milton, who is himself before himself in everything he writes.
1882–3. Schaff’s Encycl. Relig. Knowl., I. 953/2. Characteristics of Hebrew … poetry: 1. Subjectivity. The Hebrew poet deals only with what concerns him personally.
1889. Sir E. Arnold, Seas & Lands, iv. (1895), 49. ‘Fidelis’ (Agnes Maude Machar), who is frequently called the first of Dominion poetesses, excels in a graceful subjectivity.
3. = SUBJECTIVISM 1.
1839. Hallam, Lit. Eur., IV. iii. § 55. His [Malebranche’s] philosophy … is subjectivity leading objectivity in chains.
1876. Fairbairn, in Contemp. Rev., June, 133. Feuerbach … developed the Hegelian subjectivity into the negation of objective reality.
4. The quality or condition of resting upon subjective facts or mental representation; the character of existing in the mind only.
1877. E. Caird, Philos. Kant, II. iv. 262. The mere subjectivity of sensation.
1884. F. Temple, Relat. Relig. & Sci., v. (1885), 132. The pure subjectivity of Religion … is no more proved by this argument than the pure subjectivity of Science.
1888. Mind, Oct., 596. Belief in the subjectivity of time, space and other forms of thought inevitably involves Agnosticism; belief in their objectivity in no way implies the rejection of Idealism.
