OBJECT  and SUBJECT, in

philosophy, the terms used to denote respectively the external world and consciousness . The term " object " (from Lat. ob, over against, and jacere, to throw) is used generally in philosophy for that in which an activity of the mind ends, or towards which it is directed . With these may be compared the ordinary uses of the term for " thing " simply, or for that after which one strives, or at which one aims . " Subject," literally that which is " thrown under " (sub), is originally the material or content of a discussion or thought, but in philosophy is used for the thought or the thinking person . The relation between the thinking subject and the object thought is analogous to the grammatical antithesis of the same terms: the " subject " of a verb is the person or thing from which the action proceeds, while the " object," direct or indirect, is the person or thing affected . The true relation between mind or thought (subject) and matter or extension (object) is the chief problem of philosophy, and may be investigated from various standpoints (see PSYCHOLOGY and METAPHYSICS) . It should be observed that the philosophical use of " subject " is precisely the opposite of the common use . In ordinary language the " subject " of discussion, of a poem, of a work of art, is that which the speaker, author or artist treats .