pragmatism
Sign in to savePragmatism is a philosophical tradition that views language and thought as tools for prediction, problem solving, and action, rather than describing, representing, or mirroring reality. Pragmatists contend that most philosophical topics—such as the nature of knowledge, language, concepts, meaning, belief, and science—are best viewed in terms of their practical uses and successes.
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Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that treats language and thought primarily as practical tools for prediction, problem-solving, and action rather than as ways to mirror reality. Pragmatists argue that philosophical questions about knowledge, meaning, and science are best understood by examining what actually works and succeeds in practice rather than pursuing abstract truth.
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Article
31 sectionsContents
- Origins
- Core tenets
- Anti-reification of concepts and theories
- Naturalism and anti-Cartesianism
- Reconciliation of anti-skepticism and fallibilism
- Theory of truth and epistemology
- In other fields
- Philosophy of science<!--'Conceptual pragmatism' redirects here-->
- Logic
- Metaphysics
- Philosophy of mind
- Ethics
- Aesthetics
- Philosophy of religion
- Education
- Neopragmatism<!--'Radical pragmatism' and 'Methodological pragmatism' redirect here-->
- Legacy and contemporary relevance
- Effects on social sciences
- Effects on public administration
- Effects on feminism
- Criticisms
- List of pragmatists
- Classical (1850–1950)
- Analytic, neo- and other (1950–present)
- In the extended sense
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Further reading
- External links
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that views language and thought as tools for prediction, problem solving, and action, rather than describing, representing, or mirroring reality. Pragmatists contend that most philosophical topics—such as the nature of knowledge, language, concepts, meaning, belief, and science—are best viewed in terms of their practical uses and successes.
Pragmatism began in the United States in the 1870s. Its origins are often attributed to philosophers Charles Sanders Peirce, William James and John Dewey. In 1878, Peirce described it in his pragmatic maxim: "Consider the practical effects of the objects of your conception. Then, your conception of those effects is the whole of your conception of the object."