Pragmatic is an approach to problems that focuses on practical, reasonable solutions rather than idealistic theories. This pragmatic approach to solving issues can be found in everyday life, from business decisions to saving wildlife to choosing the best treatment for a child with food allergies. While pragmatism can be seen as a negative trait, there are times when it can help us find the right solution for the problem at hand.
‘Pragmatic’ is also the name of a movement in philosophy that focuses on communication and context, and which emerged in the mid- to late-19th century. The key ideas of this philosophical movement originated in discussions at a Harvard metaphysical club in the 1870s and became popularized through publications by Peirce and James. Pragmatism is sometimes viewed as a method, principle or set of maxims for clarifying concepts and identifying empty disputes, and it has been influenced by other movements such as empiricism, Hegelianism and realism.
One of the central aspects of pragmatism is that the truth is inherently relative to the context and purpose of the communication, and that this relativity makes it impossible to assert the existence of absolute objective truths. This means that there is no such thing as a fact that is true in all possible contexts, and that truths must be judged on their own merits in each individual case.
Pragmatism’s most important contribution to the study of language and meaning is its emphasis on speakers’ communicative intentions and acts, and the strategies hearers employ to determine what these are in a given conversation. This perspective on language and meaning has led to a new field of study known as pragmatics, which studies the way in which we use words in a particular situation.
Different pragmatic theorists focus on different properties of utterances. For example, some (like Sperber and Wilson) emphasize the importance of ‘near-side pragmatics,’ or the facts that are relevant to determining what is said; while others (such as Carston and Wilson) focus on ‘far-side pragmatics,’ or the factors that are involved in understanding the meaning of an utterance.
There are also pragmatic theorists who take a more general approach to the study of language and meaning. These theorists include those who believe that a certain kind of reasoning called ‘ampliative’ inference is required for communication to work, and that this sort of inference goes beyond mere perception and rule-following. This sort of inference involves the application of a special type of logic known as Gricean maxims, or more generally the principles of communication that Peirce devised.
The philosophy of pragmatism has been influential in a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, psychology, economics and science. In the social sciences, pragmatism has been used in political theory and law, as well as in ethics and social policy. For example, pragmatist philosophers like Dewey and Habermas have emphasized the importance of democratic dialogue and the concept of the community of inquiry as ways to keep power from distorting inquiry and discussion.