Pragmatic is a tendency to choose the option that is practical or advantageous for any situation. Whether it is in decision making, day-to-day behavior or even national international relations, this trait is prevalent in many areas. While it does have its positives such as flexibility, pragmatism can also lead to negatives including being short-sighted and having a lack of compassion for others.
Pragmatism is a tradition within modern Western, more specifically American philosophy tracing its origin to thinkers such as Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey. It is a philosophical movement, a method or worldview (ideology). Seen pragmatically as a philosophy it implies that truth is reliant on successful function and not by establishing a priori principles.
In practice, pragmatism is a method of settling metaphysical disputes that might otherwise be interminable. For example, the notions of a one or many worlds; fated or free; material or spiritual are debated interminably. The pragmatic method aims to interpret each such notion by tracing its respective practical consequences. What difference, to any particular person, would it make for this notion to be true rather than that one? If no such practical difference can be traced, then the alternatives mean practically the same thing and all dispute is idle.
A pragmatic view of life also enables one to recognise potential problems and take preventive action. This can help minimise the impact of negative outcomes, such as accidents or disasters. Being practical can also improve relationships as individuals tend to communicate openly and directly, addressing issues in a constructive manner that increases trust.
People with a pragmatic perspective tend to prioritize helping their own family and friends over strangers. They may also be less concerned with pursuing their own moral ideals or beliefs for fear of disappointing those close to them. Pragmatists often equate morality with effectiveness. They will prioritize what is most likely to produce the desired outcome, whatever the cost.
Applied to a project, the pragmatic approach is based on an empirical understanding of complex systems that are unpredictable. It is a methodology that reduces uncertainty by focusing on what can be observed with sufficient – not perfect – certainty and using models as simplifications of the real world.
A pragmatic view of a research project involves the identification of objectives, gathering data and suggesting hypotheses to address these objectives. It is a process that is iterative, meaning that it will require constant testing and feedback to ensure success. This is in contrast to a dogmatic approach which assumes that a given theory will be correct and discards alternative theories without assessing their merits. Having the ability to be pragmatic enables a project team to remain flexible and responsive to change while delivering a high-quality product to its customers. In this way, pragmatism is an effective strategy to achieve agile software development. However, it is important to note that being pragmatic should not be taken to the extreme of eliminating actions which might fail to achieve a project’s delivery dates.
