A pragmatic person is concerned with real-world occurrences and their practical effects. He or she is willing to compromise in order to reach an outcome that will work for both him or her and those involved. The word pragmatic can also refer to the philosophy of pragmatism, which is a broad philosophical approach that emphasizes the connection between thought and action. Applied fields like public administration, political science, leadership studies, and international relations have incorporated the ideas of pragmatism into their theories.
Pragmatic is defined as “relating to or characteristic of pragmatism.” The philosophy of pragmatism is an approach that focuses on real-world situations and their consequences. It is an alternative to traditional philosophy that focuses on abstract, metaphysical notions and ideals. Pragmatism is sometimes considered to be a middle ground between rationalism and idealism, and it is often compared to utilitarianism.
Philosophers who have embraced the tenets of pragmatism have argued that truth is something that is verified in practice. For instance, the philosopher Charles S. Peirce, who was a proponent of pragmatism, believed that scientific beliefs are warranted by the process of verification. He claimed that, in essence, “truth is what works.”
William James, another pragmatist, took a slightly different stance when it came to the concept of truth. He believed that something is true only in so far as it has a practical effect, such as soothing one’s nerves. However, James left open the possibility that there could be ontological truths, and this was a departure from classical pragmatism.
In linguistics, the term pragmatic describes a theory of communication that is based on the assumption that meaning can only be derived through a process of interpreting other messages. This is called utterance interpretation, and it requires the listener to combine several pieces of information in order to determine what the speaker meant by his or her words.
Many psychological approaches have a pragmatic component. For example, cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of treatment that is designed to help people change how they think about and react to particular situations. This is a form of pragmatism, because it involves changing a person’s behavior in ways that will have a positive impact on the way he or she deals with problems.
Pragmatic is also a common word used in the business world. For instance, someone who is considered to be pragmatic in the workplace might be described as being results oriented or goal driven. This type of person would be more likely to focus on what is important for the company’s success than he or she might be to adhere strictly to a moral code. For this reason, companies that employ pragmatic employees tend to be successful in the long run. However, a pragmatic approach to the workplace can have negative consequences if not handled carefully. For this reason, it is important for a leader to be able to recognize when to apply the principles of pragmatism and when not to.