1. Personal
Similarities
- “Subjective” and “personal” both relate to an individual's unique perspective, feelings, or experiences. When we say something is subjective, it means that its evaluation, interpretation, or understanding depends on the individual making the judgment. Similarly, when we describe something as personal, we are emphasizing that it is closely tied to an individual's own life, thoughts, or emotions.
For example, in the realm of art, the appreciation of a painting is often subjective. One person might see a particular abstract painting as a profound expression of human emotion, while another person might view it as nothing more than a random collection of colors and shapes. This difference in perception is based on the individual's personal experiences, cultural background, and aesthetic sensibilities. Here, both “subjective” and “personal” can be used to describe the nature of art appreciation, highlighting that it is not an objective, universal truth but rather a reflection of an individual's unique perspective.
- Another similarity is that both terms can be used to describe opinions, beliefs, or preferences. For instance, a person's political beliefs are often subjective and personal. One person might strongly believe in a particular political ideology based on their personal experiences of social injustice, economic inequality, or environmental degradation. Another person might hold an opposing political view based on their own personal values, such as individual freedom, limited government intervention, or traditional social norms. In this case, both “subjective” and “personal” are appropriate to describe the nature of political beliefs, emphasizing that they are shaped by an individual's unique life experiences, values, and perspectives.
Differences
- “Subjective” has a more theoretical and philosophical connotation. It is often used in academic or intellectual discussions to refer to the nature of knowledge, perception, and judgment. When we say that something is subjective, we are highlighting the fact that it is not based on objective, verifiable facts but rather on an individual's subjective interpretation, perception, or judgment. For example, in a philosophical debate about the nature of beauty, one might argue that beauty is subjective. This means that there is no objective, universal standard of beauty that applies to all people and all cultures. Instead, the perception of beauty is subjective and varies from person to person based on their individual experiences, cultural background, and aesthetic sensibilities. Here, the term “subjective” is used in a philosophical context to make a theoretical claim about the nature of beauty.
- “Personal,” on the other hand, has a more practical and everyday connotation. It is often used to describe things that are closely related to an individual's own life, experiences, or relationships. When we say that something is personal, we are emphasizing that it is private, individual, and not necessarily shared or applicable to others. For example, a person's diary is a personal record of their daily thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is a private document that is meant for the individual's own personal use and reflection. Here, the term “personal” is used in an everyday context to describe the private and individual nature of a person's diary. Another example is that a person's choice of career is often a personal decision. It is based on the individual's own interests, skills, values, and career goals. While external factors such as job market conditions, family expectations, and social norms may also play a role in a person's career choice, ultimately, it is a personal decision that reflects the individual's own unique preferences and circumstances. Here, the term “personal” is used to describe the individual and private nature of a person's career choice, emphasizing that it is a decision that is based on the individual's own personal factors and not necessarily on external, objective criteria.
2. Interpretive
Similarities
- “Subjective,” “personal,” and “interpretive” all share the common characteristic of being influenced by an individual's unique perspective, experiences, or understanding. They are used to describe situations where there is no one - size - fits - all, objective answer, but rather a range of possible views that depend on the person making the judgment.
For example, in literary criticism, the analysis of a novel can be described as subjective, personal, and interpretive. One critic might focus on the social and political themes of the novel, interpreting it as a commentary on the current state of society. Another critic might be more interested in the psychological motivations of the characters, offering a different interpretation of the novel's meaning. These differences in interpretation are based on the individual critics' personal interests, academic backgrounds, and life experiences. Here, all three terms - “subjective,” “personal,” and “interpretive” - can be used to describe the nature of literary criticism, highlighting that it is a field where multiple, often conflicting interpretations are possible, and these interpretations are shaped by the individual critic's unique perspective.
- Additionally, all three terms can be applied in the context of art, history, and even scientific research (to an extent). In art, as mentioned earlier, the perception and appreciation of a work are highly subjective, personal, and interpretive. In history, different historians may offer varying interpretations of the same event based on their personal biases, the sources they have access to, and their overall historical perspective. In scientific research, while the goal is to establish objective facts, the process of formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, and interpreting results can also be influenced by the researchers' personal beliefs, experiences, and theoretical frameworks. For example, two scientists studying the same phenomenon may come up with different hypotheses based on their personal understanding of the relevant theories and their past research experiences. These hypotheses then guide the design of their experiments and the interpretation of the results. Here, the terms “subjective,” “personal,” and “interpretive” can be used to describe the elements of human judgment and influence in the scientific research process, even though the ultimate aim is to achieve objective knowledge.
Differences
- “Interpretive” specifically emphasizes the act of interpreting or making sense of something. It focuses on the process by which an individual takes a piece of information, an event, a work of art, etc., and assigns meaning to it based on their own knowledge, experience, and perspective. For example, in a legal context, a judge's decision is often based on an interpretive analysis of the law. The judge must consider the specific facts of the case, the relevant legal statutes and precedents, and then interpret the law in a way that leads to a just decision. Here, the term “interpretive” is used to describe the judge's process of analyzing and assigning meaning to the law in the context of the specific case.
- “Subjective,” as we've seen, has a broader connotation related to the idea that something is based on an individual's subjective perception, judgment, or experience rather than on objective, verifiable facts. While interpretation is often a subjective process, “subjective” can also refer to other aspects of an individual's subjective experience, such as their feelings, emotions, and personal preferences. For example, when we say that a person's taste in music is subjective, we are highlighting that their preference for certain types of music is based on their individual feelings, emotions, and personal experiences rather than on any objective, universal criteria for what constitutes “good” music. Here, the term “subjective” is used to describe the individual and personal nature of a person's taste in music, emphasizing that it is a matter of subjective preference rather than objective fact.
- “Personal,” as previously discussed, has a more practical and everyday connotation, emphasizing the individual, private, and often intimate nature of something. While interpretation can be a personal process, “personal” can also refer to other aspects of an individual's life, such as their personal relationships, their personal achievements, and their personal goals. For example, when we say that a person's decision to pursue a particular career is a personal one, we are highlighting that it is based on the individual's own personal interests, skills, values, and career goals rather than on external factors such as family expectations or social norms. Here, the term “personal” is used to describe the individual and private nature of a person's career decision, emphasizing that it is a decision that is based on the individual's own personal factors rather than on external, objective criteria.