Pragmatic is a philosophy that holds that the truth or meaning of a statement should be measured by its practical (i.e. pragmatic) consequences. It is an approach to philosophical problems that was developed mainly by American philosophers such as John Dewey and William James. It is an alternative to the more traditional ‘Continental’ and ‘analytic’ traditions of philosophical thought.
A person who is pragmatic is a practical and realistic thinker who pays more attention to real-world implications of ideas than to abstract notions. This type of person wouldn’t expect to be given a unicorn for their birthday, as this would be more of an idealistic request than a pragmatic one.
The word pragmatic is derived from the Latin pragma, which means “deed.” A pragmatic person does what works best, and doesn’t get caught up in unrealistic beliefs or fantasies. A pragmatic person would be more likely to settle a lawsuit than try to win it in court.
While the pragmatist philosophy isn’t as well defined as other major philosophical viewpoints, there are certain tenets that have loomed large over its development. These ideas aren’t endorsed by all pragmatists, but they are the foundation of this philosophical movement.
Pragmatism’s key ideas originated in discussions at a metaphysical club that met at Harvard around 1870. Two of the leading figures in this group were Charles Sanders Peirce, who defined and defended the view, and his friend William James, who further popularized it. Their Harvard colleague Josiah Royce, although he officially allied with absolute idealism, also played a significant role.
After its initial vogue, pragmatism went through something of a decline in popularity. This was due in part to the rising influence of positivist orthodoxy, especially the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell, and the Vienna Circle. Nevertheless, the pragmatist legacy was re-established in the 1970s, when Richard Rorty (1931-2007) consciously turned to it as a counterpoint to mainstream epistemology. A number of other liberatory philosophical projects, including feminism, ecology, Native American philosophy, and analytic philosophy, also look to pragmatism as their home.
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