Pragmatic is a term used to describe someone who acts in accordance with real-world, practical concerns. A pragmatic person will consider the impact of his or her actions on others, and the world at large, instead of focusing solely on his or her own goals and priorities. A pragmatic person will also weigh the likelihood that a particular action will have a positive or negative effect on an outcome, and choose accordingly.
Pragmatism is a philosophy that was founded in the 19th century in America by philosophers Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. It is a tradition within modern Western, more specifically American, thought, and has been further developed by numerous thinkers (Maxcy 2003).
A key aspect of pragmatism is its rejection of the correspondence theory of truth, which asserts that a true statement “corresponds” to a state of affairs. This stance differs from naturalism, which does not reject the correspondence theory but allows for the possibility that true statements may not always correspond in the same way (Putnam 2012a, 2012c).
Being pragmatic means taking into account consequences for yourself and others when making decisions. For example, if you’re trying to decide whether or not to accept a job offer and you find yourself weighing what will be good for your career and the potential for future advancements versus what is best for your family and community, it would be pragmatic for you to accept the job.
Another aspect of being pragmatic is avoiding idealistic, entrenched viewpoints that are unlikely to produce desirable outcomes. If you’re a researcher, for example, and you design and conduct your study in a particular way, it is likely that you have some warranted beliefs about what the outcome of the research will be (Morgan 2014a). These beliefs are not necessarily based on evidence, but rather on previous experiences and expectations that were shaped by your own or others’ prior work.
Children who do not develop pragmatic language skills struggle with social interactions and can have difficulty expressing themselves appropriately. There are several ways to help your child improve their pragmatic communication skills, including modeling appropriate behavior, engaging in role-playing social scenarios, and providing constructive feedback. A speech therapist can provide resources and strategies to teach these skills to your child.