[hosepipe]

[ there seems to be something more involved in this attitude than scrupulous devotion to the scientific method -- that is, some kind of "personal stake" or other, professional, emotional, or psychological/spiritual. ]

I agree.... but then there would have to be more involved for we all observers.. All of us.. Even those of us that think they/we are totally objective.. To be totally objective you would have know everything.. You know like God.. {LoL.. snort}..

[betty boop]

To be totally objective you would have know everything....

And not only that, but also you would have to abstract yourself from the "everything" in order to comment on it as if it were an "object" separable from yourself. Logically, this is what "objective" means.

Of course, this is impossible for human beings, who are both parts and participants of the whole they observe.

Thanks my dear brother hosepipe for you insights!