When people hear the word pragmatic, they might think of someone who can make clear, calm decisions in a crisis. They don’t get caught up in big-picture ideals and emotions, and they can take things one step at a time to address the problem. Often, this is seen as a positive thing, but some pragmatic people can be perceived as meddlesome or controlling. Pragmatic is also a philosophy and movement that advocates for actions taken based on the consequences, rather than on moral principles alone.
The scientific study of pragmatics is called pragmatics, and it seeks to understand how we use language in context to communicate with each other. The field of pragmatics is quite broad, with many subfields: formal and computational pragmatics; theoretical and applied pragmatics; game-theoretical, clinical and experimental pragmatics; intercultural and interlinguistic pragmatics, as well as historical pragmatics.
In everyday speech, we use pragmatics all the time. It’s what allows us to politely hedge a request, cleverly read between the lines of a conversation, and negotiate turn-taking norms in discussion. It’s also what allows us to navigate ambiguity in context, which is something that all humans struggle with.
Pragmatic is often contrasted with the philosophical concept of idealism, which is a belief that principles are more important than concrete, real-life results. People who are pragmatic tend to be more willing to compromise or accept a less than perfect outcome than those who are idealistic.
People who are pragmatic also tend to be more likely to weigh the impact of their actions on others, which is known as taking a ‘big picture’ perspective. For example, if you’re trying to decide whether or not to kill your creditor, being pragmatic might mean considering the impact on those who would be left with nothing when you die, even if it violates your own moral code.
A person who is pragmatic doesn’t have to be amoral, however. Being pragmatic might simply mean that you’re willing to sacrifice your own principles for the greater good, or because you know that it’s a more effective way to achieve a goal than strict adherence to the law or morality alone.
For those interested in learning more about pragmatics, there are a number of books and academic articles available on the subject. For instance, the Handbook of Pragmatics, edited by Laurence R. Horn and Gregory Ward, is a great resource that covers both theoretical and applied pragmatics. It’s a good place to start for anyone looking to learn more about this fascinating science. Other helpful resources include the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (pragmatics entry), and the Wikipedia page for Pragmatics. There are several other websites that also provide information on pragmatics, including The Pragmatics Research Network, The Center for Pragmatic Studies, and the Institute for Pragmatic Studies. There are a variety of conferences and workshops focused on pragmatics, too. These are a great opportunity to learn more about the field and meet fellow pragmaticists.
