Pragmatism is a uniquely American contribution to philosophy that was first articulated in the latter part of the 1800's and the early part of the 1900's. As a school of thought, it emerged from the ideas of four principal characters: Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., William James, Charles Sanders Peirce, and John Dewey. Though it is difficult to summarize, one key idea pragmatism is known for is its theory of truth. According to pragmatism, the truth of a belief is determined not according to its propositional content, but rather according to its expediency in the achievement of practical results. In other words, the truth of a belief is determined according to its practical usefulness in the attainment of a desired outcome; a "true" belief is a "useful" belief.
Pragmatism was briefly fashionable, followed by a 50 year period of obscurity and, in more recent times, a modest revival. — geospiza
truth is not just useful belief, but a useful fictitious belief. ...crucial to a more postmodern type pragmatism that we see more recently in schools like that of Rorty. — Brian
I've always found pragmatism fascinating due to its status as kind of the first major American philosophy. American culture is extremely pragmatic, right? We value what works in the "real world" over theoretical speculation with little to no actual pragmatic effects. It feels like SUCH an American school of thought. — Brian
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