Pragmatic is a word that describes someone who cares more about practical matters rather than theory or ideals. The word pragmatic comes from the Greek pragma meaning “deed; state of affairs.” People who are pragmatic tend to be concerned with things that can be done and have some practical purpose (praxeia). The opposite of a pragmatic person would be an idealist, who is more concerned with ideas and theories that don’t necessarily have a real-life practical application.
Many people might consider a politician’s ability to remain calm and think logically during a crisis as a pragmatic trait. However, some people may confuse pragmatic with dogmatic. Dogmatic describes a strong, strict set of principles that guide beliefs and decisions, such as those laid down by a church or a religious group. While pragmatic is often a synonym for businesslike, efficient, hardheaded, and logical, it also has a negative connotation of being superficial and superficially-minded.
A key tenet of the pragmatist philosophy is that there are no universally valid truths. Instead, what is true is whatever works and produces acceptable results. This approach has been popularized by pragmatic philosophers such as Chauncey Wright, Charles Sanders Peirce, and William James. It has also become the philosophical home for liberatory movements such as feminism and ecology.
Although there are a few flaws in the pragmatist philosophy, its supporters argue that it is more useful than other approaches and that it allows individuals to tailor their morality to their own beliefs and circumstances. In addition, pragmatism has become a philosophical base for movements such as social realism and multiculturalism.
For English language teachers, understanding pragmatics is important to teaching students how to interact with different cultures and situations. Lessons on pragmatics can be included in existing lesson plans, or they can be taught as stand-alone lessons. Regardless of how they are taught, pragmatic lessons should be relevant to the students’ needs and interests in order to maximize student engagement.
Some classrooms might incorporate pragmatic skills into their everyday lessons, while others might include them in more advanced classes such as grammar or vocabulary. Ultimately, the best way to teach pragmatic skills is to allow students to practice them in real-life situations. This can be accomplished through a variety of activities and games, such as role plays or improv exercises. During these activities, students should be encouraged to discuss the implications of their choices in a given situation. This will help them understand how different pragmatic rules and expectations might vary across cultures.