Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable?

Discuss with reference to

the Arts and the Social Sciences.

Introduction

Whenever, research or a study is conducted in any field, evidence plays a crucial role in producing
an impactful and convincing research. It is also driven by our inherent need for objectivity and
certainty when it comes to understanding everything around us and coming up with informed
decisions. This is why we tend to seek evidence that can hardly be disputed and disapproved of
by anyone in order to support our arguments. But could there be other reasons why we may want
to seek indisputable evidence despite its unattainability, especially in the realm of Arts and Social
Sciences. Despite the high subjectivity of art, indisputable evidence in that area of research could
be crucial in maintain certain cultural and historical meanings present in that artwork, and also
discovering certain crucial messages that the artwork may try to convey. In the case of research in
the area of Social science, though it is highly influenced by complex human and societal
behaviour, attaining irrefutable evidence could potentially guide effective policy making, as well as
have the capacity to impact human perceptions on certain issues that are confronting the world
today. As such, this essay aims to provide insightful analysis, with real world examples, on the
aforementioned arguments to uncover the reason for out tendency to seek indisputable, yet
unattainable evidence with regards to Arts and Social Sciences.

Argument 1: High subjectivity of art

- Seeking indisputable evidence in art is elusive as it depends on personal subjective

responses.
- Artistic expression is open to multiple interpretations, influenced by individual experiences,
cultural backgrounds, and personal preferences.
- Various forms arts, such as music, poetry, and literature, convey emotions that are deeply
personal and diverse, making it extremely challenging to establish concrete and
indisputable evidence.
- Example: Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” invited mixed interpretations and feelings about
the artwork.

Reason for seeking indisputable evidence in art

- Art serves as a significant cultural and historical documentation

o Innate desire in humans to preserve their cultural heritage
o Example: “Ukiyo-e, a popular form of woodblock printing in Japan during the Edo
period, documented the lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment of the urban population”
→ being able to come up with concrete and indisputable analysis of such artwork
could potentially enrich Japanese history
 - Some pieces of artwork may be trying to communicate specific message to the audience
o Example: "Guernica" is a famous painting by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, created
in response to the bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
The painting is a powerful anti-war statement and a condemnation of the brutality
and suffering caused by conflict
o Objective analysis of the painting's composition, such as visual elements can aid in
deciphering its intended meaning. Experts can analyse the techniques Picasso
employed the use of abstraction, to uncover the underlying message and further
justify the specific message that the artwork is trying to put forth, which could
potentially be helpful in trying to convey messages that will be beneficial to society
as a whole

Argument 2: complex human behaviour and societal phenomena

- Studies regarding social sciences may often require us to analyse complex human
behaviour
- For example, even Social Sciences like economics, which is known to have concepts that
are relatively objective compared to other domains of social sciences, still rely on human
choices, beliefs, and uncertainties, which can result in different predictions and
interpretations.
- It becomes challenging to establish indisputable evidence or draw definitive conclusions

Reason for seeking indisputable evidence in social sciences

- Guiding effective policy making

o Policy makers may rely on certain social science research for coming up with
informed decisions
o For examples, research conducted in the realm of Economics may guide in coming
up with beneficial economic policies that could possibly benefit the country as a
whole
o Economic research on how effective Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is in
containing poverty and incentivizing work played a crucial role in its implementation
o Research conducted showed that EITC lifted countless families out of poverty and
encouraged low-income individuals to enter the workforce.
o As such, such research could have been unattainable as it could have inevitably
involved analysis of complex human behaviours (when analysing how it has
encouraged low-income individuals to enter the workforce)
- Influencing public perception on certain issues
o Certain societal opinions that are backed up by indisputable evidence has the
potential to transform public opinions about a certain issue
o One such example could be of gender equality and inclusion
o Numerous research have been conducted on the importance of including women
into the workforce, and the positive effects it could have to the working industry and
society as a whole
o One such example could be that that McKinsey & Company's "Women Matter"
Reports, which has provided evidence that companies with more women in
leadership roles tend to perform better financially and have more effective
governance structures
o However, such research could have been possibly unattainable, due to its tendency
to be controversial (which could have led to difficulties in data collection, participant
recruitment and dissemination of their findings)
o Similarly, it would have also required to analyse the nuances and complexities of
human behaviour, such as those of women and those in the workforce in this case