pragmatism
/ˈpraɡmətɪz(ə)m
/noun [mass noun]
1A pragmatic attitude or policy: ideology had been tempered with pragmatism...
- This is indicative of the sentiment-eschewing pragmatism that has been characteristic of a driven performer.
- Fortunately, democratic politics normally are characterized by pragmatism and compromise, not ideology.
- For a government that prides itself on pragmatism and prudence, this is a policy that astonishes in its fecklessness and recklessness.
2 Philosophy An approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.The alternative to pragmatism is epistemological realism....
- In such formulations, there are striking similarities between Critical Theory and American pragmatism.
- The primacy of the practical is what links American pragmatism and Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek pragma, pragmat- 'deed' (see pragmatic) + -ism.