Pragmatic is a word that refers to choices and actions that are considered practical, reasonable, or sensible. It can also describe a person who has a focus on results and consequences. It is sometimes contrasted with idealistic, but that is not always the case. Many people balance pragmatism with idealism and often find a middle ground where they compromise on some principles but also pursue goals that are realistic given the circumstances.

Philosophical pragmatism encompasses a wide range of ideas, from philosophical logic to metaphilosophy. Its roots are in the 19th century works of Peirce, James and Dewey. The philosophy has since become influential, particularly with the 20th-century movements of logical positivism and ordinary language philosophy. Pragmatism shares some similarities with rationalism and empiricism, but it tends to be less focused on action and more on the idea that metaphysical doctrines are verifiable.

Some pragmatists have made contributions to the philosophy of science and the philosophy of language. For instance, Richard Rorty incorporated aspects of classical pragmatism into his theory of epistemological relativism and scientific realism. He also influenced the work of later neopragmatist philosophers such as Susan Haack and Hilary Putnam.

Other pragmatists have contributed to the philosophy of education and the social sciences. For example, John Dewey’s Art as Experience and his emphasis on the integrity of art, culture and everyday experience are in keeping with pragmatist tenets. Dewey emphasized that the art of human experience is the process of growth and learning, rather than the finished product.

John Rawls, the founder of modern pragmatism, is credited with making a number of important advances in social theory and the philosophy of law. He was particularly concerned with the recasting of the notion of justice as a form of negotiated autonomy that reflects the realities of human life rather than a strict legal concept based on the law of the strongest.

Many pragmatists are epistemological relativists, and neopragmatists such as Richard Rorty have argued that a pragmatic approach to the philosophy of science is necessary because it is impossible to know everything about science and so it is important to make decisions that are based on what you can be sure of. However, this view is criticized by others who see neopragmatism as a form of relativism that does not go far enough.

Some pragmatists are naturalists, including a school of thought that goes by the name of radical empiricism. This philosophy, like pragmatism, stresses that the world is a complex and dynamic system of interconnected phenomena. It has been used as an alternative to realism and is sometimes viewed as an argument for the ontological status of the mind. Other naturalists are skeptical of this idea, particularly those who are concerned with the limits and nature of knowledge.