Pragmatic is the ability to assess a situation objectively and seek out feasible solutions. It’s a grounded perspective that encourages efficiency, effectiveness and success.
People who are pragmatic don’t get bogged down with abstract theories. They’re more interested in the real-world, tangible benefits of their decisions and actions. This practicality helps them make decisions that are in line with their capabilities and resources. Pragmatism also allows them to establish goals that are achievable, which reduces the chance of failure and frustration.
Being pragmatic also helps individuals make better choices in general. Individuals who are practical evaluate the pros and cons of different options before making a decision, which can help them overcome biases and emotions. This can help them make more rational and informed decisions that are in line with their long-term interests.
In philosophy, pragmatism is the philosophical doctrine that something is true only insofar as it works. Pragmatism is a philosophy founded by Charles Sanders Peirce and his student William James. It presents a viable third alternative to the analytic and continental traditions of philosophy. In modern times, it is often associated with liberatory political projects such as feminism and ecology, but it can be found in many other areas of life as well.
A person’s pragmatic skills are influenced by their culture and upbringing, but they can be taught. Parents and teachers are especially important role models for children who want to develop their pragmatic skills. They should model the behaviours that they wish to see in their children and teach them the vocabulary necessary for expressing those skills.
Whether you’re an adult who wants to improve your own pragmatic skills or a child or teenager who is struggling with pragmatic language disorders, there are many resources and strategies available to you. For example, a speech therapist can work with you to identify the root cause of your child’s pragmatic language disorder and provide the tools and support necessary to make positive progress.
Learning to be more pragmatic can take some practice, but the rewards are great. Start by practicing on less important decisions and build up your confidence. You can then apply your pragmatic approach to larger life decisions, gradually building up to the point where you can make even complicated decisions without thinking about them first.
A pragmatist approach can be particularly useful in the field of research, as it supports a scientific method that is open to all data and knowledge sources. It’s a suitable approach for mixed methods and multimethod research, which involves combining multiple types of quantitative and qualitative data. It also helps to prevent research teams from becoming too caught up in the details of their work and can lead to more productive and unbiased conclusions. For these reasons, pragmatism is an increasingly popular philosophical framework for researchers around the world.
