The term “pragmatism” comes from the Greek word “pragma,” meaning action. The philosophy of pragmatism emphasizes the idea that the meaning and truth of concepts or beliefs are best understood in terms of their practical consequences and applications and not in any abstract principles or doctrine. Pragmatism is a method. A pragmatist turns away from abstractions, verbal solutions, fixed principles, closed systems and pretended absolutes and turns towards concreteness, consequences, facts, action and power. Pragmatists claim that ideas and theories are true insofar as they work effectively in dealing with problems or achieving specific outcomes. For instance, pragmatists would consider which ethical norms lead to the best practical results for the greatest number of people instead of debating on abstract principles. Pragmatism can be seen in practice in policy making, policy made and changed in compliance with the practical utility of the public. Thus pragmatism recognizes that knowledge is subject to revision in light of new experience.

Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, John Dewey and other authors contributed to the philosophy of pragmatism.

Reference and further readings

• Pragmatism at Wikipedia.

Dewey J (1937). Logic: The Theory of Inquiry. Wiley: New York(Available in Boydston JA (ed) (1981–1982). John Dewey, TheLater Works: 1925–1953, 17 Vols. Southern Illinois UniversityPress: Carbondale).

James W (1907). Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways ofThinking. Hackett: Indianapolis (Edited with an introduction byKuklick B in 1981).

Peirce CS (1878). How to make our ideas clear. In: Hartshorne C,Weiss P and Burks A (eds) (1931–1966). Collected Papersof Charles Saunders Peirce, Vol 8. Harvard University:Cambridge, MA.