Pragmatic is the study of how context influences our understanding and interpretation of language. Unlike semantics, which deals with the meaning of words and sentences in their literal sense, pragmatics looks at the way we use language. It also considers social, cultural, and situational factors. Our pragmatic knowledge is what enables us to politely hedge a request, cleverly read between the lines, and negotiate turn-taking norms in conversation.
A pragmatist views the world as changing constantly, and tries to make sense of it in terms of the most practical consequences for people. This is the basis for the pragmatist notion of truth. In contrast to realism, which advocates a strong attachment to reality and a rejection of the idea that one can know anything for sure, pragmatism is an epistemological theory that endorses the view that we are only able to know something is true if it proves useful. It is this utilitarian theory of truth that distinguishes pragmatism from other philosophical positions, such as realism and idealism.
The pragmatist approach was developed by Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) and his colleague William James (1842-1910). They were both influenced by the scientific revolution that was underway at the time, particularly evolutionary theory. Their philosophies were further developed by their Harvard colleague Josiah Royce (1855-1916), although he was more closely aligned with absolute idealism than the other classical pragmatists. Other pragmatists included sociologist George Herbert Mead and philosopher John Dewey.
Classical pragmatism is best known for its criticism of the correspondence theory of truth, which held that true theories are those that produce consistent results. It is also well-known for its support of a pragmatic epistemology and of various forms of heuristic or fallacy-detecting reasoning. Its influence waned with the rise of analytic philosophy and other modern movements, but it continues to play a role in the development of new theories, especially in the area of communication studies.
Pragmatism is a valuable tool for those seeking to improve their life by being more practical and effective. It teaches us to not be afraid to take risks and to trust our intuition. This can be difficult to do, but practising on smaller decisions first can help. If you have never been pragmatic, it is important to understand how it can benefit your life, and start applying it to bigger decisions. Ultimately, the key to success is action. You will get more done if you are pragmatic than if you try to rely too much on other people’s advice or spend hours researching everything. If you can learn to be more pragmatic, you will find that it will help you achieve all your goals and dreams! This article was written by a guest contributor to the blog and may not reflect the views of The Pragmatic Institute. The Pragmatic Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to the advancement of pragmatism. For more information, please visit our website at www.pragmaticinstitute.org. To contribute a blog post, contact the editor-in-chief at editor@thepragmaticinstitute.org.