ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Pragmatism

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈpɹæɡmətɪzəm/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Pragmatism is a noun meaning The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals.

Meaning

The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals.

More Meanings

  1. (politics) The theory that political problems should be met with practical solutions rather than ideological ones.
  2. (philosophy) The idea that beliefs are identified with the actions of a believer, and the truth of beliefs with success of those actions in securing a believer's goals; the doctrine that ideas must be looked at in terms of their practical effects and consequences.
  3. (obsolete) The habit of interfering in other people's affairs; meddlesomeness.

Example Sentences

Our conception of these practical consequences is for us the whole of our conception of the object, so far as that conception has positive significance at all. This is the principle of [Charles Sanders] Peirce, the principle of pragmatism.

Word Forms

Antonyms for pragmatism

Common opposites include idealism, contemplation.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include pragmatic, realism, reality, practicality, lifelike, hardheadedness.

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Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

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