pragmatism (philosophy of)
- pragmatism (philosophy of)
An influential and important, perhaps the central, North American philosophy. It rejects the quest for fundamental, foundational truths, and shuns the building of abstract philosophical systems. Instead, it suggests a plurality of shifting truths grounded in concrete experiences and language, in which a truth is appraised in terms of its consequences or usevalue. It is a down-to-earth philosophy, born in a period of rapid social change, which seeks to unify intelligent thought and logical method with practical actions and appeals to experience. William
James , in his
Pragmatism (1907), neatly summarizes the perspective when he states that ‘the Pragmatic method …is to try to interpret each notion by tracing its respective practical consequences. What difference would it practically make to anyone if this notion rather than that notion were true?’
Pragmatism has sometimes been maligned as the philosophy of capitalism- since it has an apparent emphasis upon the ‘cash value’ of ideas. While differing significantly in emphasis, its key proponents are generally agreed to be the realists Charles Sanders
Peirce and John
Dewey , and the nominalists William James and George Herbert
Mead . It is identified with the Chicago School of sociology, and Paul Rock has argued (in
The Making of Symbolic Interactionism, 1979) that it was important in shaping the theory of
symbolic interactionism.
Dictionary of sociology.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
Pragmatism — pragmatism … Philosophy dictionary
pragmatism — The philosophy of meaning and truth especially associated with Peirce and James . Pragmatism is given various formulations by both writers, but the core is the belief that the meaning of a doctrine is the same as the practical effects of adopting … Philosophy dictionary
Pragmatism (non-technical usage) — * In ordinary usage, pragmatism refers to behavior which temporarily sets aside one ideal to pursue a lesser, more achievable ideal.* A pre 20th century usage of the term pragmatist has it referring to a person who meddles in the affairs of… … Wikipedia
Pragmatism — • As a tendency in philosophy, signifies the insistence on usefulness or practical consequences as a test of truth. Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Pragmatism Pragmatism … Catholic encyclopedia
Philosophy — • Detailed article on the history of the love of wisdom Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Philosophy Philosophy † … Catholic encyclopedia
Pragmatism — philosophy which originated in the United States in the late 19th century. Pragmatism is characterized by the insistence on consequences, utility and practicality as vital components of meaning and truth. Pragmatism objects to the view that human … Mini philosophy glossary
Philosophy of music — Philosophy ( … Wikipedia
Philosophy of Common Sense — Philosophy of Common Sense † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Philosophy of Common Sense The term common sense designates (1) a special faculty, the sensus communis of the Aristotelean and Scholastic philosophy; (2) the sum of original … Catholic encyclopedia
pragmatism — ► NOUN 1) a pragmatic attitude or policy. 2) Philosophy an approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application. DERIVATIVES pragmatist noun … English terms dictionary
pragmatism — [prag′mə tiz΄əm] n. 1. the quality or condition of being pragmatic ☆ 2. a method or tendency in philosophy, started by C. S. Peirce and William James, which determines the meaning and truth of all concepts by their practical consequences… … English World dictionary
