Pragmatic is a word that describes a person who makes decisions based on real-world circumstances. They’re able to remain calm and think logically in stressful situations, rather than being swayed by emotions or fear. Pragmatic people are able to see multiple sides of a situation and find ways to compromise.
The term pragmatic is often used in a positive manner to praise choices or actions that are considered practical and reasonable. When used in a negative way, however, the word can be seen as condescending or meddlesome. Pragmatic can also be used to describe someone who is overbearing and only cares about their own needs. The difference between pragmatic and practical is that pragmatic focuses on how things are, whereas practical is about what could be done or possible.
Semantics is the study of literal meaning and how words are understood. Pragmatics is the study of meaning in context, or how words are used in practice. A good example of this is when someone says, “Do you want me to close the window?” While the speaker doesn’t say, “Yes, please”, it can be inferred that they would like the window closed because it is currently open. This is an example of the concept of implicature, which is a key part of pragmatics.
The pragmatist movement first emerged in the United States around 1870, and now presents a growing third alternative to analytic and ‘Continental’ philosophical traditions worldwide. Its first generation was initiated by the so-called classical pragmatists, Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914) and his Harvard colleague William James (1842-1910), who were both deeply influenced by evolutionary theory. Other notable pragmatists include the philosopher George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) and pioneering African-American philosopher W.E.B Du Bois (1868-1963).
A central feature of pragmatism is the idea that there is no such thing as objective truth, that the only way to know something is to experience it for yourself. This has implications for a wide range of topics, from epistemology (the study of knowledge) to metaphysics and ethics.
While the pragmatist approach has many strengths, it can be challenging to apply its principles to everyday life. It is difficult to apply universally, because the context of each situation requires a different set of principles. Additionally, the pragmatist focus on experiential truth can sometimes lead to hedonic relativism, in which only experiences that are pleasurable or enjoyable are considered valuable.
As a result, pragmatism has been challenged by many critics, including some of its own practitioners. The most significant challenge has been from the analytic pragmatists, who argue that pragmatism is merely a form of relativism disguised by a false pretension to objectivity. More recently, a number of neopragmatists have attempted to overcome this criticism by focusing on the importance of a principled foundation for pragmatism. By arguing that pragmatism is not just an empty shell, but a useful philosophy for understanding and changing the world, they seek to revive its credibility as a viable philosophical approach.