Pragmatic is a term that describes choices or actions that are practical and reasonable. It’s also used to describe people who take a middle-of-the-road approach to problems and issues.
Pragmatists believe that reality is in a constant state of flux, and pragmatist ethics prioritize action over metaphysics or idealism. Responsive to evolutionary theory, pragmatists argue that knowledge is adaptive and should be viewed as a tool for adapting to changing circumstances. As such, pragmatists are critical of moral and metaphysical doctrines that relegate change to a merely metaphysical level.
Classical pragmatism is characterized by the works of John Dewey, William James, and Charles Sanders Peirce. It has been influential in the development of public administration, and scholars have noted that classical pragmatism provides a framework for solving complex problems. It’s important to note that pragmatics is not the same as semantics; a person’s meaning is determined by their context, their intentions, and how they manage to communicate.
The philosophy of pragmatism has influenced many social-emotional skills and academic disciplines. As a result, fostering pragmatic skills is essential for learning and social-emotional growth. Teachers can develop students’ pragmatic skills by promoting positive classroom environments, encouraging respect and empathy, and fostering communication and collaboration.
Students with strong pragmatic skills are more engaged in school and have greater success learning. Educators can support students’ pragmatic skills by providing a supportive classroom environment and incorporating collaborative activities that promote turn-taking and topic maintenance. They can also use resources that provide explicit instruction and practice in a variety of contextual situations. Increasing pragmatic skills in the classroom is vital to a student’s overall academic success.
Pragmatics has contributed to philosophy, psychology, sociology, and education. For example, the pragmatist philosophy of William James and John Dewey helped develop cognitive behavioral therapy, a practical, problem-oriented form of treatment. The philosophy of pragmatism has also shaped sociological theories, such as the theory of action. It’s important to note that pragmatism is not antithetical to religion; it just emphasizes the importance of practical experience and leaves open the possibility that spiritual experiences may be true.
Contemporary pragmatism is most heavily focused on epistemology, ethics, and linguistic philosophy. It has also been applied to other social-emotional and educational areas, including education, sociology, psychology, and the philosophy of language. For example, pragmatism has been used to inform the discourse ethics of philosopher Jürgen Habermas, who developed a pragmatic theory of truth based on functionalism and who sought to free philosophy from its reliance on the notion of metaphysical propositions. Other neopragmatists have made contributions in the philosophy of science, the sociology of religion, and the social sciences.