Pragmatic is a word that often gets used to describe people or things that are practical, sensible, and logical. It’s often used to contrast with idealism or when someone talks about an idealist versus a pragmatist, but it can also be used as an adjective that simply means “realistic.” People who are pragmatic tend to deal with life in a realistic way and are willing to compromise and take into account other people’s needs, wants, and ideas.
a branch of philosophy that deals with language and meaning, and focuses on the ways in which context affects linguistic interpretation. It studies how the significance traditionally attached to words (semantics) is augmented by various forms of contextual meaning (implicitness, the role of reference, the use of indexicals and demonstratives, speech act theory, and the concept of conversational implicature).
The most common sense of pragmatic is being reasonable and taking into account other people’s perspectives. It’s a good idea to be pragmatic when making decisions, as it can help you avoid being caught up in unrealistic or unhelpful beliefs that might cause conflict later on. Pragmatism is a good approach for problem solving, as it helps you find solutions that will work in the real world and not just in your head.
A person who is pragmatic will think about the results of their actions before they do them, whereas an idealist will only consider the best possible outcome that they could achieve. This makes pragmatism the most useful approach for dealing with real life situations because it allows you to be open to the reality of the situation instead of believing that a specific goal is the only option.
For example, imagine a CEO finds out that they can make more profit by firing their old workers and hiring new ones who will be cheaper. They would be pragmatic in this situation, as they will know that they can still make profit by doing so, while allowing their company to move forward and improve in the future.
One of the most well-known philosophers to espouse a pragmatic view is John Dewey, who wrote ‘Experience and Nature’ in 1929, and Richard Rorty who published ‘Philosophical Essays’ in 1979. They both argue that it is wrong to assume that science degrades everything meaningful into a mere physical phenomenon.
A pragmatist is also likely to be critical of formal logic and see it as just one tool among others, rather than the ultimate standard of truth. It’s an approach that has influenced other philosophers and academics, such as C. S. Peirce, Stephen Toulmin, and the authors of Cultural Realism, who believe that a pragmatist perspective can complement scientific theory and contribute to a better understanding of human nature. This is an area of study that aims to bridge the gap between science and the humanities. To learn more, download our digital booklet, ‘Supporting pragmatic and social communication in deaf children’.