Pragmatism.. Its definition and philosophy.



There are a group of different philosophical schools of thought, each one expressing its own specific ideas, beliefs, and tendencies. Our topic today is about one of the most famous philosophical doctrines, which is pragmatism. What is the definition of pragmatism and what is its philosophy?


Definitions of pragmatism

Pragmatism includes several definitions, and among the most important definitions we find in the Collins English Dictionary are as follows:

  • Pragmatism is dealing with problems in a practical way rather than relying on mere theoretical principles.
  • It is a behavior or policy that looks at immediate practical consequences rather than just following theories.
  • It is a philosophical trend or current that determines the meaning and truth of all concepts through their practical consequences.


An introduction to pragmatic philosophy

Pragmatic philosophy arose in the United States during the last quarter of the nineteenth century, preferring the priority of action over observation and the priority of experience over theoretical principles and ideas, and it includes those who believe that the validity of a particular issue or doctrine depends on its practical application, and that impractical ideas are rejected for them.


Pragmatism has greatly influenced not only philosophers but also other fields such as law, politics, sociology, psychology, and literary criticism, and is closely related to the modern natural and social sciences.


The most important pioneers of pragmatic philosophy


Among the most prominent and important pragmatic philosophers who worked on the development of pragmatic philosophy and were strongly influenced by it are:

  • William James (1842-1910): One of the most prominent advocates of pragmatism, the first to use the term pragmatism in print, and is considered the founder of American psychology. According to him, pragmatism revolves around values and morals, and he has claimed that ideas and beliefs derive their value from the possibility of their action and application.

  • Charles Sanders Peirce (1839-1914): The founder of pragmatism, as he is sometimes called (the father of pragmatism or pragmatism), coined the term pragmatism, and was interested in the science of logic, whose philosophical contributions formed the basis for the later invention of the computer.

  • George Herbert Mead (1863-1931): Considered one of the founders of social psychology, best known as the founder of American pragmatism. 

  • John Dewey (1859-1952): John Dewey developed the rationalist empirical philosophy, which later became associated with pragmatism, and attempted to combine Peirce and James's philosophies of pragmatism.

  • Willard Van Orman Quine (1908-2000): philosopher, one of the Harvard University professors and one of the most important representatives of analytic philosophy. He believed that philosophy is not merely a conceptual analysis, but rather constitutes the abstract branch of the empirical sciences.

  • Clarence Irving Lewis (1883-1964): A prominent proponent of modern philosophical logic.

Some principles of pragmatic philosophy


There are some principles and beliefs that pragmatic philosophy believes in, the most important of which are:


The changing and open nature of reality


The world that we know through personal experience is a world that is constantly changing and transforming, that is, it is completely devoid of absolute immutability, and unexpected events or coincidences are an inseparable part of life. That is, social and behavioral processes and even natural laws are just probabilities, not an absolute reality that does not tolerate any exceptions or sudden changes.


Therefore, pragmatists believe that facts are not only there to discover, but are made by human activity that can have significant effects not only on the social world but also on the natural environment. The idea of an open and changing world also encourages human freedom to act positively in this world, and thus we find pragmatism supports the idea that philosophy should not be made up of abstract theories and concepts, but also considers practical application necessary and essential.


The priority of humanitarian action over knowledge


As for pragmatism, we seek knowledge first not in order to reach rational goals, but with the aim of making more effective decisions and actions to achieve our goals in life. Hence pragmatism says that satisfying our needs is more necessary and essential than concepts of truth and knowledge.

In addition to a set of other principles such as:

  • One of the beliefs of pragmatism is that it takes problems as an incentive to reach the truth.
  • Emphasizes the principle of utility.
  • Pragmatism is opposed to the absolute ideals and values advocated by the idealists.
  • It emphasizes the importance of human power and advocates the development of social and democratic values.
  • Much importance is given to activity-based learning.
  • She believes in pluralism and opposes social customs and traditions

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