Pragmatic is an adjective that refers to choices or actions based on practical consequences rather than on idealistic, high principles. It can also refer to the philosophical movement that advocates pragmatic considerations in the determination of meaning, truth, and value. The word pragmatic is derived from the Greek verb pragmatikos, meaning “to do,” and it is sometimes abbreviated as pragmatism. Pragmatic is used frequently in philosophical discussions of language and the human ability to understand the world around them.
The philosophy of pragmatism is often confused with realism, another movement that has some important similarities to the pragmatist view. Both realism and pragmatism are based on the idea that we have some limited knowledge of the universe around us, and that our understanding is shaped by experience and our environment. The two movements differ in the extent to which they take this knowledge into account when determining meaning, truth, and value.
The philosopher John Dewey was an early proponent of pragmatism, and his influence continues to this day. Other philosophers who have embraced the idea of pragmatism include C. S. Peirce and Stephen Toulmin. The American pragmatists are sometimes called the Chicago Club, and their work inspired scholars in philosophy of language, logic, and rhetoric. The pragmatist approach to truth has had many important implications in the field of education, with schools adopting a more student-centered philosophy based on the principle that students learn best by doing.
Philosophers who are pragmatic in their approach to philosophical questions often use the term pragmatic to describe themselves. In this way, the word is often contrasted with the concept of idealism, which focuses on high ideals and grand theories.
In the realm of politics, a pragmatic politician is someone who considers real-world conditions when making decisions. This type of politician is considered more likely to get things done than a politician who has an idealistic approach.
Those who are pragmatic about the world of business tend to focus on results and outcomes, not on rules and regulations. This is considered to be a more effective approach for businesses to follow. A pragmatic approach can be a good strategy for a business to follow in a changing environment, as it allows them to adjust their strategies quickly and effectively.
The study of pragmatics is an area of philosophy that looks at the context-dependence of linguistic interpretation. While semantics focuses on the significance conventionally or literally attached to individual words, and syntax looks at the relationships between sentences, pragmatics is concerned with how one sentence can express multiple propositions depending on features of the speech context in which it occurs. This is a significant difference from the study of semantics, which tries to determine the meaning of a particular idea or word.