Derived from the Greek “pragma” (deed or action), pragmatism is a philosophical tradition emphasizing the practical consequences and experiential outcomes of ideas and beliefs. Its core principles can be summarized as follows:
Meanings and Concepts
Practicality as Criterion: Pragmatism evaluates ideas, concepts, and theories based on their utility, workability, and ability to produce tangible results.
Truth as Dynamic and Contextual: Truth isn’t viewed as an absolute correspondence to reality, but as something evolving and determined by its effectiveness within specific contexts and problem-solving scenarios.
The Primacy of Experience: Pragmatists ground knowledge in direct experience, continuous experimentation, and the ability to adapt beliefs based on outcomes.
Focus on Problem-Solving: Pragmatism approaches philosophical problems from a solution-oriented perspective, valuing outcomes and resolutions over purely theoretical debates.
Rejection of Fixed Foundations: Pragmatists challenge the concept of immutable foundational truths, viewing knowledge as contingent and beliefs as subject to revision based on practical consequences and evolving experiences.
Pragmatism is a philosophical approach emphasizing the practical consequences and usefulness of ideas. It holds that the truth or meaning of a concept is determined by its practical effects and outcomes in the real world. Essentially, pragmatism focuses on what works and is effective rather than what is abstractly or theoretically true.
Pragmatism: Theorists, Works and Arguments
Theorist
Major Works
Charles Sanders Peirce
* How to Make Our Ideas Clear (1878):* Introduces the pragmatic maxim, positing that a concept’s meaning is understood through its potential practical consequences. * The Fixation of Belief (1877): Examines various methods of belief formation, championing the scientific method as the most reliable path to stable knowledge.
William James
* The Will to Believe (1896): Contends that when evidence is insufficient, we may justifiably base beliefs on passion and potential benefits. * Pragmatism (1907): A series of lectures defining pragmatism’s focus on practical results and the utility of ideas. * The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902): Analyzes religious experience from psychological and pragmatic standpoints, acknowledging its impact regardless of metaphysical truth claims.
John Dewey
* Democracy and Education (1916): Advocates for experiential and problem-solving education rooted in democratic participation. * Experience and Nature (1925): Explores the interconnectedness of human experience and the natural world, outlining a process-and-change oriented philosophy. * Art as Experience (1934): Understands art as an intensified form of everyday experience, highlighting its transformative potential for individuals and society.
Richard Rorty
* Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature (1979): Challenges philosophy’s ability to perfectly represent reality (‘mirroring’), arguing that language should function as a tool for social progress. * Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity (1989): Stresses the contingent nature of language and beliefs, favoring social solidarity over the quest for absolute foundations.
Hilary Putnam
* Reason, Truth and History (1981): Rejects both metaphysical realism and radical relativism, proposing truth as what would be justified under ideal conditions of inquiry. * The Many Faces of Realism (1987): Expands his concept of ‘internal realism’, emphasizing how truths operate within our conceptual frameworks.
Pragmatism: Major Characteristics
Emphasis on Practical Consequences: Pragmatism prioritizes the practical outcomes and consequences of ideas over abstract theories or principles. This characteristic is exemplified in William James’s “The Will to Believe,” where he argues that beliefs should be judged by their practical effects rather than their abstract truth.
Problem-Solving Orientation: Pragmatism is characterized by its problem-solving approach, advocating for experimentation and adaptation to address real-world challenges. John Dewey’s “Experience and Nature” embodies this characteristic, emphasizing the importance of learning through experience and engaging with the environment to solve problems.
Rejection of Absolute Truth: Pragmatism rejects the notion of absolute truth, instead viewing truth as something that is subject to change and determined by its practical consequences. Literary works like Henry James’s “The Ambassadors” often explore this theme, portraying characters who grapple with the complexity of truth and the shifting nature of reality.
Value of Utility and Effectiveness: Pragmatism values ideas based on their utility and effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes. Characters in literature, such as Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, embody this pragmatic spirit by relying on evidence and deduction to solve mysteries, demonstrating the importance of practicality and efficiency in problem-solving.
Pragmatism challenges the formalist approach by emphasizing the practical consequences and real-world applications of literary texts over strict adherence to formal structures or aesthetic principles.
Pragmatism aligns with reader-response criticism by emphasizing the importance of the reader’s interpretation and the pragmatic effects of a text on its audience, rather than seeking inherent meaning or authorial intent.
Pragmatism intersects with postcolonial theory by highlighting the practical implications of colonial legacies and advocating for adaptive, problem-solving approaches to address issues of power, identity, and representation.
Pragmatism in feminist criticism emphasizes the practical consequences of gender inequality and the need for pragmatic strategies to challenge patriarchal systems and promote gender equity in literature and society.
Pragmatism intersects with Marxist criticism by emphasizing the pragmatic effects of socioeconomic structures and advocating for practical strategies to address class struggle, inequality, and oppression in literary texts.
Pragmatism challenges psychoanalytic criticism by prioritizing practical outcomes and problem-solving over abstract psychological theories or unconscious motivations in literary analysis.
Pragmatism: Application in Critiques
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Pragmatism could critique the characters’ relentless pursuit of the American Dream, emphasizing how their singular focus on wealth and status leads to disillusionment and moral decay.
It might analyze the pragmatic consequences of Jay Gatsby’s idealism, suggesting that his refusal to adapt to changing circumstances ultimately results in his downfall and isolation.
Additionally, pragmatism could examine the societal critique within the novel, emphasizing the practical implications of the characters’ shallow values and materialism on the fabric of American society during the Jazz Age.
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe:
Pragmatism could critique the clash of cultures depicted in the novel, highlighting the pragmatic consequences of colonialism on traditional Igbo society and the erosion of cultural values and social structures.
It might analyze the pragmatic responses of characters like Okonkwo to the changes brought by colonialism, emphasizing their attempts to adapt or resist in order to navigate the shifting dynamics of power and identity.
Furthermore, pragmatism could examine the novel’s exploration of cultural memory and storytelling, emphasizing the pragmatic importance of preserving and reclaiming indigenous narratives in the face of colonial erasure.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez:
Pragmatism could critique the cyclical nature of history depicted in the novel, emphasizing the pragmatic consequences of the Buendía family’s actions on the fate of Macondo and its inhabitants over generations.
It might analyze the pragmatic responses of characters to the magical realism and fantastical events that occur throughout the narrative, emphasizing their practical strategies for survival and adaptation in a world of uncertainty.
Additionally, pragmatism could examine the novel’s exploration of memory and myth, emphasizing the pragmatic significance of storytelling and collective memory in shaping individual and communal identity in Latin America.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini:
Pragmatism could critique the impact of political instability and social upheaval depicted in the novel, highlighting the pragmatic consequences of conflict on personal relationships, identity, and moral responsibility.
It might analyze the pragmatic responses of characters like Amir to the trauma and guilt they experience, emphasizing their attempts to reconcile past mistakes and seek redemption in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
Furthermore, pragmatism could examine the novel’s exploration of friendship and betrayal, emphasizing the pragmatic lessons characters learn about loyalty, forgiveness, and the complexities of human relationships in Afghanistan and the diaspora.
Pragmatism: Relevant Terms
Term
Definition
Pragmatic Maxim
A principle formulated by C.S. Peirce emphasizing that the meaning of a concept lies in its conceivable practical effects.
A perspective, particularly prominent in John Dewey’s thought, that views beliefs and ideas as tools or instruments for solving problems within specific contexts.
Experientialism
Emphasizes the central role of direct experience in forming knowledge and shaping belief.
Anti-foundationalism
Rejection of fixed, absolute foundations for knowledge, emphasizing its evolving and provisional nature.
Pluralism
Acceptance of multiple valid perspectives and interpretations of reality, open to revision based on outcomes and experience.
Fallibilism
Acknowledges that all knowledge claims are potentially subject to error and can be revised or discarded through future experiences and experimentation.
Meliorism
The belief that the world can be improved through intelligent action guided by practical consequences.
Verificationism
The concept that a statement’s meaningfulness is tied to its potential for empirical verification (often associated with logical positivism, but also relevant within pragmatism).
Social Practice
The idea that beliefs and knowledge are embedded in social practices and communities, shaped by shared purposes and outcomes.
Contingency
Stresses the idea that our beliefs and values are shaped by historical context and chance occurrences rather than arising from some predetermined necessity.
