Pragmatic is a philosophy that allows for compromise and the changing of one’s beliefs in response to new situations. It’s an idea that can be difficult to accept for traditional thinkers who are used to believing in old traditions and proven ways of doing things. However, being pragmatic can allow for change and a more open view of the world.
This pragmatism can be applied in business, where it helps to identify and manage risks effectively to achieve desired results. For example, if a company is trying to implement a new technology, it can be pragmatic to train the team and have a backup plan in case there are issues. The same principle can be applied in software development, where pragmatism is important for designing and building solutions that are scalable.
Unlike other philosophical traditions, which often focus on philosophical arguments, pragmatism is focused on practical problems and solutions. It is an approach that is used by many disciplines, including psychology, business, computer science, and sociology. In business, the philosophy can be used to improve communication and collaboration between employees, increase productivity, and reduce conflict.
Pragmatism can also be applied to the field of marketing, where it can help businesses define their unique value proposition, which can then be communicated to customers and prospects. It can also be used to develop strategies that can lead to sustained growth and success. For example, a small business can be pragmatic about its growth, by forgoing the temptation to expand too quickly, and instead investing in strengthening current operations. This can lead to long-term profits and a more stable, sustainable business model.
A key feature of pragmatism is its emphasis on the importance of experience. For this reason, the philosophy can be seen as a kind of relativism, where the truth is what works best in a particular situation. For example, when someone says they believe in prayer, this could mean that it works for them psychologically and provides comfort. However, it could also mean that their prayers are never heard. This is a pragmatic interpretation of religion that leaves the door open for transcendent realities to exist.
The pragmatist tradition can be traced back to Charles Sanders Peirce, who was part of “The Metaphysical Club.” The club was a group of Harvard-educated men that met for informal philosophical discussions in the early 1870s. It included proto-positivist Chauncey Wright and future Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, as well as two young scholars who would become the first self-consciously pragmatists: psychologist William James and philosopher G. H. Mead. The latter introduced pragmatism to the wider world at large with his 1915 book, Pragmatism: A New Dimension in Ethics. The philosophy of pragmatism is now increasingly influential outside North America, with vibrant research networks appearing in South America, Scandinavia and more recently central Europe and China. It is an approach that has been embraced by liberatory movements in fields such as feminism, ecology, and Native American philosophy.