Pragmatic is a word that describes someone who approaches problems sensibly and realistically. They prioritize practicality and real-world results over theoretical or idealistic considerations, but aren’t blind to their principles or beliefs. They’re able to make decisions in the heat of the moment and don’t crumble under pressure. They don’t let big-picture ideals or emotions cloud their judgement, which makes them a trustworthy and reliable partner to have in difficult times.
The adjective pragmatic comes from the Greek pragmatikos, which means “practical.” It’s also the root of the word praxis, which refers to the action of practicing something. The philosophy of pragmatism is centered around the idea that reality is what we experience, and the truth is how we apply our experiences to the world. The philosophies of William James and Charles Sanders Pierce are considered the founding fathers of pragmatism, but the term didn’t gain widespread popularity until the 1930s.
When used as a noun, pragmatic is sometimes pejorative, insinuating that someone is officious or meddlesome. However, when used as an adjective, pragmatic is a highly positive trait. People who are pragmatic tend to have a healthy balance between big-picture ideals and practical action, and can take things one step at a time when faced with a crisis. They’re able to set their emotions aside and focus on the most realistic aspects of a situation, and they’re not afraid to compromise their principles for the sake of making progress in the real world.
There is no pragmatist creed that’s endorsed by all pragmatists, and it’s impossible to identify a single defining characteristic of pragmatic thinkers. But certain ideas have loomed large in the pragmatist tradition, and it’s possible to understand a little bit about what makes a person pragmatic by looking at these key themes and theses.
For William James, pragmatism is based on the notion that something is true insofar as it has practical consequences for us. For example, if someone prays and it has soothing effects on them, that is enough to prove the existence of God. Pragmatists don’t deny the possibility of transcendent realities, but they don’t believe in them either.
The philosophical school of pragmatism is still influential today, with liberatory philosophical projects in areas like feminism (Seigfried 1996), ecology (Alexander 2013), and Native American philosophy (Pappas 1998) all finding their home within the pragmatist tradition. It’s a broad philosophical trend that focuses on getting things done rather than arguing over theoretical principle, and it’s well-suited to our fast-paced, constantly changing society. People who are pragmatic have a keen sense of what will actually work, and they’re not afraid to use the tools of science and technology to get there. They’re able to see how different systems of logic can work together and make things more effective, and they’re able to apply their pragmatic approach to any situation that presents itself. They’re not stuck in the past and are always looking forward, which makes them a valuable member of any team.