Pragmatic is the branch of language study that looks at the way we use language in real-world situations, rather than at semantics (the meaning of words), grammar, or syntax. It’s not the only field in philosophy that deals with this, but it is one of the most important and has generated a great deal of research. There are formal and computational pragmatics, theoretical and applied; there’s game-theoretical and experimental pragmatics; there are intercultural and interlinguistic pragmatics and even neuropragmatics. There are a variety of different approaches to pragmatics, too: some see it as a philosophical project along the lines of Grice; others focus on its interaction with grammatical structure; and others take it as a psychological investigation into human understanding and interpretation.
In a broad sense, pragmatism refers to an approach to life or to problems that emphasizes practicality and common sense. It’s a form of rationalism that’s sometimes associated with utilitarianism. The word pragmatic comes from the Greek pragmatikos, which derives from the root praxis, “to do.” In the late 1680s, John Dryden coined the term to describe a style of rhetoric that puts a premium on practical results, and it became a popular way of thinking in the 20th century.
One of the most influential pragmatist philosophers was George Herbert Mead (1863-1931), who developed pragmatist perspectives on relations between the self and society. However, as analytic philosophy flourished and dominated the philosophy departments of the Anglo-American world, pragmatism was increasingly eclipsed. Its resurgence began in the mid-20th century, with scholars like Jurgen Habermas developing pragmatist insights into the ways that the modern world is constructed through discourse.
People don’t always say what they mean, so pragmatic knowledge helps us interpret ambiguity in context. Pragmatic knowledge lets us politely hedge a request, cleverly read between the lines, or negotiate turn-taking norms in conversation. It’s also what allows us to make sense of news reports that say, for example, that a stolen painting was found “by a tree.”
In politics, a pragmatic approach to dealing with conflict often proves more successful than the idealistic, entrenched viewpoints of those who refuse to compromise. For example, a politician might settle a lawsuit that could potentially harm their party’s chances at winning the election because they know that if they go to trial and lose, it could cost them the presidency. The politician is pragmatist in that they are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. In the world of business, pragmatics can be used to explain how businesses succeed and fail. For example, a pragmatic approach to sales may include training employees to identify and address customer concerns. Similarly, a pragmatic approach to management may involve implementing an employee evaluation system that includes measurable performance metrics. These metrics can help managers assess the effectiveness of the company’s strategic plans and evaluate the success of individual departments. In addition, a pragmatic approach to employee performance can help companies determine how they should allocate budgets in the future.