Word Study
pragmatism
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun pragmatism has 2 senses
- pragmatism(n = noun.cognition) Array - (philosophy) the doctrine that practical consequences are the criteria of knowledge and meaning and value; Array has particulars: instrumentalism
- pragmatism(n = noun.attribute) realism - the attribute of accepting the facts of life and favoring practicality and literal truth; Array is a kind of practicality
is a kind of philosophical doctrine, philosophical theory
Derived forms adjective pragmatic2, adjective pragmatical1, noun pragmatist1
Derived forms adjective pragmatic1, adjective pragmatic3, adjective pragmatical2, noun pragmatist2, noun pragmatist1
CIDE DICTIONARY
pragmatism, n.
The quality or state of being pragmatic; in literature, the pragmatic, or philosophical, method. [1913 Webster]
"The narration of this apparently trifling circumstance belongs to the pragmatism of the history."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
pragmatism, n.
1 a pragmatic attitude or procedure.
2 a philosophy that evaluates assertions solely by their practical consequences and bearing on human interests.
1 a pragmatic attitude or procedure.
2 a philosophy that evaluates assertions solely by their practical consequences and bearing on human interests.
Derivative
pragmatist n. pragmatistic adj.
Etymology
Gk pragma: see PRAGMATIC
THESAURUS
pragmatism
Marxism, R and D, animalism, atomism, behaviorism, commonsense realism, control, control experiment, controlled experiment, cut and try, dialectical materialism, down-to-earthness, earthiness, earthliness, empiricism, epiphenomenalism, experiment, experimental design, experimental method, experimental proof, experimentalism, experimentation, freedom from illusion, functional design, functional furniture, functionalism, hardheadedness, historical materialism, hit and miss, hylomorphism, hylotheism, hylozoism, lack of feelings, materialism, matter-of-factness, mechanism, natural realism, naturalism, new realism, noble experiment, physicalism, physicism, positive philosophy, positivism, practical-mindedness, practicality, practicalness, pragmaticism, rationality, realism, reasonableness, representative realism, research and development, rule of thumb, saneness, scientism, secularism, sensibleness, sober-mindedness, substantialism, temporality, tentative method, tentativeness, testing, trial, trial and error, trying, unidealism, unromanticalness, unsentimentality, utilitarianism, worldliness
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