Pragmatics is a branch of semiotics (the study of signs) that focuses on the way that words are used in context. In contrast to semantics, which deals with what meaning words might have in a strictly literal sense, pragmatics takes into account social, cultural, and situational factors that influence the ways we use language. This makes pragmatics the more ‘contextual’ of the two branches of language studies.
The term pragmatics was first coined by the semiotician Charles Morris in 1938, though it was inspired by the earlier philosophical tradition of pragmatism. This school of thought, pioneered by Charles Sanders Peirce and later championed by John Dewey, emphasized practical consequences and usage in the meaning of signs, bringing an external perspective to the traditional focus on syntax and semantics.
In its earliest forms, pragmatism was not a coherent philosophy, but rather an eclectic mix of ideas that seemed to be related by their emphasis on concrete outcomes and a rejection of sweeping metaphysical claims such as realism or idealism. The pragmatists sought to reconcile anti-skepticism with fallibilism, maintaining that human knowledge is always partial and subject to revision.
For example, in a legal case that involves copyright infringement, the pragmaticist would weigh the cost of the lawsuit against its likely effectiveness in bringing about a favorable result. A lawyer might also consider the possible effect of a court ruling on future litigation, the likelihood that a particular policy will be adopted by the state, and other variables when making a decision about how to proceed with a case.
While the pragmaticists were not in agreement about everything, they did togel agree that knowledge is only valuable if it has a real-world consequence; knowledge is ‘true’ or ‘false’ based on how useful it proves to be in inquiry and action. This view of knowledge is often referred to as pragmatic epistemology, and it is one of the central themes in pragmatism.
Despite its origins in the pragmatic school of philosophy, pragmatism is now considered a broad and diverse field with many subfields, including lexicology; sociolinguistics; communication and discourse analysis; philosophy of language; and cognitive psychology. It is also found in fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence, and information retrieval.
In this broad context, pragmatics is a useful tool for understanding how our language and culture interact. However, it is important to note that pragmatics should not be confused with ‘pragmatics’ in the sense of the maxim “Do what works.” While this popular maxim is a helpful guideline for most situations, pragmatics as an analytical tool requires careful examination and is a rigorous and complex subject. A good place to start is by learning about the major figures of pragmatism. Then, by applying pragmatic principles to your own circumstances, you can develop your own pragmatic epistemology and learn what works best in different situations. By doing this, you will be able to make informed decisions that lead to positive results. Ultimately, this is what pragmatism is all about.