A pragmatic person looks at the practical side of a situation. Someone who is pragmatic tends to think of the consequences of their actions for themselves and others and chooses the option that makes the most sense in the circumstances. Pragmatism is often contrasted with idealism, which is the preference for pursuing a hypothetical best-case scenario regardless of the consequences. However, many people manage to navigate life with a bit of both pragmatism and idealism.
A pragmatist recognizes that human knowledge is limited and that what appears to be the truth today may change tomorrow. This is the basis for philosophical pragmatism, which is also called fallibilism. It’s important to remember that your own beliefs can change as you experience new situations and new information.
In education, a pragmatic approach encourages students to learn through experience rather than relying on lecture and classroom discussion. It is an excellent way to teach students how to make decisions, which will serve them well throughout their lives. This is a critical component to democracy, as it empowers individuals to question what they are told by authority figures and take responsibility for their own decisions.
Pragmatism can help students develop the confidence to make unstructured, spontaneous decisions in real-life situations. This is an important attribute to have in the workplace, as it will allow them to respond quickly to changes that might require adjustments to their original plans and goals. Pragmatic people are not ruled by their emotions, which is one reason they tend to be more successful in business than other types of thinkers.
Practicing pragmatic thinking can be challenging, especially if you are accustomed to analyzing everything in detail and calculating the potential outcomes of your actions. For this reason, it is important to practice making pragmatic decisions on smaller projects or tasks first, until you become more comfortable with the process. You may find that it helps to write down your thoughts and consider the possible outcomes before executing your decision.
Pragmatists also take the social context of their situations into consideration when making decisions. For example, if you are asked to meet with a group of friends and colleagues for dinner, you should consider how your behavior will affect the other members of the meeting. For instance, if you are the last to arrive, you should be aware of the effect that it will have on your coworkers.
A pragmatist will also assess the value of different research methods to determine which one will achieve the desired outcome of their project. They will look for ways to adapt their existing beliefs in light of new information and experiences, as they recognize that human knowledge is limited (Morgan 2014a).
People who are pragmatic often have difficulty understanding the hesitancy of other people when it comes to taking risks or trying something new. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts, which is why it’s important to try to understand what other people are thinking when they have doubts about a new strategy or project.
