Pragmatic is a philosophical theory that deals with how language functions in the world. It is often compared to the philosophy of language, which tends to focus on the concept of meaning and the relationship between words and their objects, while pragmatics focuses on the specific uses that speakers make of language in particular contexts. Many other disciplines, including psychology and sociology, also have pragmatist approaches.
A common phrase that is used with the same meaning as pragmatism is “to take into account.” When something is considered pragmatic, it is taken into consideration for its impact on others, which can include moral implications. A common example involves the scheming of a business person who tries to pay off his creditor in order not to lose his company and jobs. While this may seem logical and smart to the individual, it is not pragmatic in the larger picture since he will still be responsible for the debt, his community will have lost a job-producing member, and his family will likely suffer from his actions.
There are many different forms of pragmatics, ranging from those that are more philosophical in nature (such as Grice’s notion of communicative intention, or “M(eaning)-intention”) to those that are more scientific and experimental. There are linguistic and semiotic pragmatics; computational, theoretical, and applied pragmatics; experimental, clinical and neuropragmatics; game-theoretic and mathematical pragmatics; and intercultural and cross-linguistic pragmatics.
Many people have a broad view of what it means to be pragmatic, based on how they use the term in their daily lives. It can be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing depending on how you apply it. For example, a person who decides to steal a car from her husband might be seen as being pragmatic, but it could also be seen as immoral and wrong.
In the field of science, pragmatism has been a philosophy of scientific method. It advocates a natural ontological attitude that takes into account the role of beliefs in the struggle of intelligent organisms with their environment and the way that these beliefs can be modified through experience.
Some philosophers have embraced the idea of pragmaticism, such as John Dewey and George Herbert Mead, while others have been critical of this approach to philosophy. Several fields, such as public administration, political science, leadership studies and conflict resolution have incorporated the ideas of pragmatism into their methodologies. Richard Rorty, a leading analytic philosopher, has promoted the idea of neopragmatism, which is an alternative to classical pragmatism. His views are controversial and have sparked criticism from both those who are neopragmatists and from those who are analytic philosophers who disagree with his philosophy. This controversy has led to a variety of arguments about what pragmatism is and what it is not. Despite these disagreements, there is agreement that pragmatism has significant practical value. It is a useful method for understanding the nature of thought and action, and it offers many concrete solutions for improving the quality of life.