Pragmatic is a word that gets used a lot in discussions about people and behavior. In particular, idealistic people are often told that they should take a more pragmatic approach to their lives by considering the consequences of their choices and actions rather than focusing on their pure intentions. The word pragmatic is derived from the Latin word pragma, which means “practical,” and it’s also related to the Greek words praxis and pragmatikos.
In general, the word pragmatic describes a person or thing that is practical and reasonable. It is also a philosophical school of thought that focuses on achieving results in real life rather than in the realm of abstract ideas like freedom or justice.
As a result of this philosophy, pragmatism has been incorporated into many areas of study in the modern world including law, business, and social sciences. It is also a common term in psychology, especially in discussions about how a person might deal with the ups and downs of everyday life.
A big part of the field of pragmatics is concerned with how language works in a natural context. This includes understanding the ways that meaning is conveyed via ambiguity, turn-taking norms in conversation, and more. It also includes the ways that people’s understanding of a situation changes as they interact with other people in it.
Because language is so inherently ambiguous, pragmatics is sometimes called “the science of ambiguity.” It is often contrasted with semantics which deals with the literal meaning of a sign or word.
One of the biggest reasons that pragmatics is such a fascinating area for study is that it can help us understand why people don’t always say what they mean. For example, imagine you see a news headline that says that a stolen painting has been found. You might interpret this to mean that a sentient tree found it, but you could also interpret it to mean that the police found it.
Your knowledge of pragmatics would let you know that the latter interpretation is much more likely than the former. This is because the pragmatics of your experience with language tell you that humans do not always say what they mean, and navigating this ambiguity is an essential aspect of human communication.
The goal of pragmatism is to avoid the swamps and dead ends that come from debating the thorny issues of absolutes. If something is true, it should be possible to determine what concrete difference it will make in someone’s actual life. This is a principle that has revolutionized the way that philosophers conduct their work and change the nature of debates in philosophy.
Interestingly, pragmatics is also a critical component of clinical speech-language pathology. Individuals with pragmatic language difficulties may benefit from a speech-language pathologist who can teach them strategies to improve their understanding of the situations and people they encounter in daily life. However, it is important to remember that not every client will want or need this type of intervention, and that must be respected.