| 释义 |
instrumentalism Philos.|ɪnstruːˈmɛntəlɪz(ə)m|
[f. instrumental a. + -ism.]
The pragmatic theory of John Dewey (1859–1952) that thought exists as an instrument of adjustment to the environment; spec. that terms of thought and meaning are relative to the function they perform and that their validity or truth is determined by their efficacy.
1909Philos. Rev. XVIII. 396 By instrumentalism is meant that element of pragmatism which has grown out of the application of the evolutionary method to logical problems. 1929J. Dewey Experience & Nature iv. 151 ‘Instrumentalism’ is a theory not about personal disposition and satisfaction in knowing, but about the proper objects of science. 1931A. Wolf in W. Rose Outl. Mod. Knowl. 549 Pragmatism, instrumentalism, and fictionism..treat beliefs as instruments of life, and to be valued accordingly. 1948B. Russell Human Knowl. 75 There is another kind of ‘meaning’, which gives occasion for pragmatism and instrumentalism. 1968J. J. C. Smart Between Sci. & Philos. v. 142 Instrumentalism does allow theoretical concepts to be quite free constructions of the theorist. |