Pragmatic
The word pragmatic comes from a Latin phrase meaning “of practical use.” People who are pragmatic think more about the way things actually are than they do about what could be or should be. They are concerned with results and consequences. In business, pragmatism is a trait that is often more successful than idealistic thinking. For example, if a company focuses on making money instead of doing good work, it is unlikely to succeed in the long run.
A person who is pragmatic also believes that it is more important to know what you are doing rather than how you are doing it. The pragmatic approach to life usually means you have more experience and knowledge than the average person. In a relationship, being pragmatic can lead to a more successful marriage. For example, if you and your partner can’t agree on what to do for dinner, you can try something new and take the pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
Pragmatic is a philosophy that emphasizes the use of logic and practical reasoning in everyday problem-solving. People who use pragmatic thought are more likely to have success in their daily lives because they can solve problems quickly and easily. For example, if you have to meet with a client, you can make a plan based on your schedule and prioritize the tasks that need to be done. This type of thought allows you to make decisions based on what is realistic and what will be the most productive.
Philosophers who are pragmatic are those who have a deep interest in what works and how it can be used. They believe in taking a practical approach to problems and find value in achieving goals and reaching solutions that will work for the most number of people. They are also often interested in the social impact of their actions. They are not afraid to experiment with different ways of doing things and are more open to change.
Pragmatists are a diverse group of philosophers who have contributed to many areas of philosophy. In the early 20th century, a variety of pragmatic ideas became more popular as a response to the perceived failures of the Enlightenment project. Contemporary pragmatics has a broad range of subfields, including formal and computational pragmatics; semantics and truth-functionality; theory of language use; interactional, clinical, and experimental pragmatics; game-theoretical pragmatics; intercultural and neuropragmatics. For further reading, see the collections of papers by classic and contemporary pragmatists listed in this entry’s bibliography. See also the Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s article on Pragmatism for a more in-depth look at the history and developments of the philosophical movement.
