Pragmatic is a philosophical school of thought that promotes problem-oriented research and action. Its philosophy of knowledge is based on socially shared experiences, with each individual’s perceptions being influenced by her/his own unique experiences (Goldkuhl 2012). It is also built on the assumption that reality is in a state of becoming and that change can be guided for personal and societal benefit. It is critical that change is embraced and that a commitment to progress is made. Pragmatists have often been highly critical of metaphysical doctrines that relegate change to the realm of mere practicality.
One of the most important concepts in pragmatics is context, which enables us to understand what a person really means when she speaks. It’s important to note that pragmatics is not a separate area of linguistic study; it is a subset of semantics, grammar and semiotics. Some researchers refer to pragmatics as “meaning minus semantics,” and that’s a pretty accurate description. Semantics focuses on the rule systems that determine the literal meanings of a spoken word or phrase, and grammar deals with how those words are put together to form sentences. Pragmatics adds to this understanding by incorporating the contributions that the physical or social context can make to an utterance’s meaning.
Another aspect of pragmatism is the functional character of ideas. Unlike traditional views of ideas as copies and impressions of external objects, pragmatists see them as instruments that help direct behaviour in the world. In this way, they are similar to tools that can be used for a specific purpose, such as constructing a building or completing an experiment. Hence, pragmatism is sometimes called instrumentalist.
In terms of research, pragmatists believe that it’s essential to take the actual results from a scientific investigation into account. They also encourage the development of new scientific theories from empirical data and experimental findings. It is crucial that scientists have the courage to publish their findings and not hide them from criticism or peer review.
The pragmatist definition of truth focuses on what works and is most likely to produce the desired outcome. This is a different way of thinking about the nature of truth than other epistemological schools of thought, which seek to find an objective and rational method of evaluating truth.
There are some problems with pragmatism, however. For example, it tends to collapse completely when applied to ethics and morality. In this sense, pragmatism is just relativism with a less-polished appearance. In fact, many business and political decisions that are based on weighing the consequences of actions for probable general welfare rather than on a moral foundation have been described as pragmatic. The most serious flaw in pragmatism is that it is a flawed concept that can’t hold up to the test of practical experience.