pragmatism
Results over theory
Pragmatism is a practical approach that values results over theory or ideology.
A pragmatist asks "Does it work?" rather than "Is it pure?" Her pragmatism helped the committee reach a compromise.
In philosophy, pragmatism is specifically the American school of thought (James, Dewey, Peirce) holding that the meaning and truth of ideas lie in their practical consequences.
Quality of being useful
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- resultsWhat follows from effort
- effectivenessSuccess in producing results
- usefulnessPractical value or purpose
feasibility · applicability · functionality · workable · actionable · hands-on · no-nonsense · productivity
Traditional masculine name
- DeweyLibrary classification pioneer
- instrumentalismTheories as useful tools
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- inquiryRequest for information
praxis · consequences · verification · truth · anti-foundationalism · experimentalism · Harvard
Practical and without pretension
- levelheadedCalm and judicious
- groundedStable and realistic
- commonsensicalShowing practical wisdom
- soberFree from intoxication
matter-of-fact · clear-sighted · hardheaded · unidealistic · prudent · judicious · shrewd · objective
Comparing expenditure to return
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
- outcomesFinal results achieved
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
welfare · maximization · ROI · value-driven · goal-oriented
Ability to adapt easily
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- versatilityCapacity for varied applications
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
compromise · improvisation · responsiveness · open-mindedness · situational · context-sensitive · case-by-case · trial-and-error
practicality
Quality of being useful
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- resultsWhat follows from effort
- effectivenessSuccess in producing results
usefulness · feasibility · applicability · functionality · workable · actionable · hands-on · no-nonsense · productivity · operational
James
Traditional masculine name
- DeweyLibrary classification pioneer
- instrumentalismTheories as useful tools
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
inquiry · praxis · consequences · verification · truth · anti-foundationalism · experimentalism · Harvard
down-to-earth
Practical and without pretension
- levelheadedCalm and judicious
- groundedStable and realistic
- commonsensicalShowing practical wisdom
sober · matter-of-fact · clear-sighted · hardheaded · unidealistic · prudent · judicious · shrewd · objective · sensible
cost-benefit
Comparing expenditure to return
- trade-offsSacrifices for gains
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
- outcomesFinal results achieved
consequentialism · welfare · maximization · ROI · value-driven · goal-oriented
flexibility
Ability to adapt easily
- adaptabilityAbility to adjust readily
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- versatilityCapacity for varied applications
resilience · compromise · improvisation · responsiveness · open-mindedness · situational · context-sensitive · case-by-case · trial-and-error · iterative
- Harvard PhilosophyWilliam James
- beliefsbelief, beliefs, creed, creeds, faith
- ismscapitalism, socialism, communism, anarchism, racism
- personality traitsextraversion, agreeableness, introvert, neuroticism, temperament
- practicalitysensible, realistic, down-to-earth, levelheaded, common sense
- traitshonesty, ambitious, brave, calm, kindness
pragmatismidealism
Belief in noble principles
utopianism · impracticality · romanticism · quixotism · wishful thinking
pragmatismabstraction
Distilling to essential qualities
theorizing · speculation · pure theory · philosophizing · contemplation
pragmatismdogmatism
Unyielding adherence to doctrine
fanaticism · zealotry · purism · fundamentalism · absolutism
- pragmatic markersWords structuring conversation flow
pragmatic, pragmatist, pragmatically, pragmatics, pragmatical