A pragmatic person is one who focuses on practical applications, as opposed to abstract ideals and theoretical ideologies. They tend to see romance as separate from pragmatic concerns, and they see beauty as the aesthetic value of lightning rather than the actual power. Some musicians have even kept day jobs after recording albums. In other words, they are pragmatic, but their music has beauty and power, but they do not focus on the romantic aspects of life. The pragmatic perspective is largely associated with the modern world.
There are two main flaws of pragmatism. It can produce acceptable results, but that does not mean the idea is true. For instance, a pragmatist might say that a child’s touch will shock them. In other words, a pragmatist would argue that this type of reasoning would result in a tragedy, while a shallow person would look at it as a positive thing.
There are several notable pragmatist philosophers. The classical pragmatist John Dewey was an influential figure in the American intellectual world for half a century. His works influenced the intellectual landscape, but pragmatism eventually waned. After Dewey, other philosophers such as John Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois also contributed to pragmatism. There are also transitional figures in pragmatism, such as C.I. Lewis, a third-generation philosopher.
Another important framework in pragmatism is relevance theory, which is based on Grice’s implicature ideas. Relevance theory claims that every utterance conveys enough relevant information to make the listener understand what the speaker is saying. In this theory, meanings change based on context, so that we cannot simply assume that a speaker’s meaning is ambiguous. A pragmatist might claim that a sentence is ambiguous if it implies that it is not clear whether the speaker is asking a question or if he or she is trying to make the statement.
A recent resurgence in pragmatism has resulted in a number of high-profile philosophers exploring this concept. Although Richard Rorty is considered a neo-pragmatist, other notable pragmatists include Hilary Putnam, Nicholas Rescher, Jurgen Habermas, and Cornel West. There is also a growing body of literature on pragmatism.
The problem with pragmatic language is that it is hard to diagnose. Although someone might appear to be socially-functioning, they may have difficulty forming close relationships with others, playing team sports, or working with others. People with pragmatic language weaknesses may even be overlooked for employment opportunities due to charismatic peers and others who have stronger social skills. Pragmatic language impairment is often associated with intellectual or developmental disabilities, brain injuries, or even autism spectrum disorder.
The basic principle of pragmatism is “whatever works.” This is an attitude that emphasizes the practical consequences of an idea, rather than its metaphysical attributes. The term “what works” is usually summarized by the phrase, “whatever works.” But the phrase changes as reality does. That’s why pragmatism is a polar opposite to utilitarianism, which emphasizes the outcome of a decision.
