Pragmatic is a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of the real world. The word pragmatic is derived from the Latin phrase pragma, which means “practical.” People use the word pragmatic to describe choices and actions that are practical and reasonable. For example, a politician might be described as pragmatic by saying that they will take ideas from both sides of an issue in order to make the best decision. The word pragmatic is also used in other fields to praise a person’s ability to think in the real world and not get bogged down by abstract ideas.
A central idea of pragmatism is that truth is not something fixed or determined by facts and ideas but by the usefulness of an idea in inquiry and action. According to James, an idea only qualifies as true if it helps in the search for truth. This is known as the pragmatic principle of verisimilitude.
The philosophy of pragmatism is associated with several philosophical movements, including American realism, social realism and existentialism. It is also linked with utilitarianism and a number of scientific theories, such as the pragmatic theory of relativity. It also shares elements with other philosophies, such as pragmatist aesthetics and cultural realism.
A key facet of pragmatism is its emphasis on the context of language use. It is this feature that distinguishes it from other philosophies of language, such as semantics. Semantics focuses on the relationship between words and the objects they are supposed to denote, whereas pragmatics studies how meanings are conveyed through the use of language in a particular context.
The philosophical movement pragmatism is often associated with a variety of disciplines, such as psychology, sociology and anthropology. It is especially popular in the cognitive-science disciplines, where it is known as experimental pragmatics and the study of the pragmatics of communication. Pragmatics has also gained a foothold in the philosophy of law, and is an important part of the epistemology of legal thought.
Several notable philosophers have contributed to the pragmatism movement. Among these are William James, John Dewey and George Herbert Mead. James developed his pragmatism through his work in education and psychology, Dewey wrote about art as an experience for all, and Mead was involved with the Hull House community and women’s rights issues. Contemporary pragmatists include Richard Rorty and the analytic philosophers such as Charles Taylor.
Many pragmatic philosophers have argued that a naturalistic approach to metaphysics is the best way forward. For instance, John Rawls developed a version of pragmatism that he called constructive materialism in his book A Theory of Justice (1971). Pragmatism has also been applied to other topics in philosophy, such as the philosophy of language and philosophical logic.