Pragmatism is a familiar word and people often hear it in terms such as: pragmatism, a pragmatic person. In the usual average statistical representation, the term is associated with something integral, thorough, efficient and rational.
Pragmatism - what is it?
Since ancient times, people have sought to give everything a name and explanation with a practical purpose - to transfer knowledge to the next generation. In translation from the Greek. pragmatism is - "action", "business", "kind." In its main meaning - a philosophical current, based on practical activities, as a result of which the declared truth is confirmed or refuted. Father-founder of pragmatism as a method - an American philosopher of the XIX century. Charles Pierce.
Who is a pragmatist?
A pragmatist is a person who is a supporter of the philosophical direction - pragmatism. In the modern everyday sense, a pragmatic person is a strong person, for whom:
- the predominance of the logical and analytical mindset ;
- strategic;
- denies idealism;
- everything is tested in practice ("people of action");
- he knows how to plan his time correctly;
- the goal must have a concrete result in the form of a benefit;
- achieves everything himself;
- manages his life as much as possible;
Pragmatism is good or bad?
If you consider any quality of personality - in all important measure. A positive personality trait in a hypertrophic surplus turns into a line with a minus sign, and pragmatism is no exception. A person who has got used to achieve his goals can "go head over heels" without taking into account the feelings of others, becoming more rigid with each time. In the society, such persons are more likely to cause envy - people see a successful result of the activity, but do not presume what efforts had to be spent on the pragmatist and think that it is just a "lucky one" with connections.
Pragmatism in philosophy
The use of the ideas of pragmatism, which took shape as an independent method only in the nineteenth century, can be traced among ancient philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle. Pragmatism in philosophy is a view that has come to replace or in contrast to the idealistic trend, "divorced from reality," so thought C. Pierce. The basic postulate, which became known as the "Piers principle," explains pragmatism as actions or manipulations with the object and obtaining results in the course of practical activities. Ideas of pragmatism continued to develop in the works of other well-known philosophers:
- W. James (1862 - 1910) philosopher-psychologist - created the doctrine of radical empiricism. In studies he turned to facts, behavioral acts and practical actions, rejecting abstract, unconfirmed ideas.
- John Dewey (1859-1952) - his task was to develop pragmatism for the benefit of people to improve the quality of life. Instrumentalism is a new direction created by Dewey, in which the ideas and theories put forward serve people as tools that change people's lives for the better.
- R. Rorty (1931 - 2007) - philosopher neo-pragmatist believed that any knowledge, even experimentally, is situationally limited and historically conditioned.
Pragmatism in Psychology
Pragmatism in psychology is the practical activity of a person leading to a certain intended result. There is a stereotype that pragmatists, most of them men. The trend of today shows that women with the same success achieve their goals. The pragmatic approach in psychology divides manifestations of the human character into successful (useful) and useless (inhibiting on the way to success). Cautiousness and pragmatism is the guarantee of a good life, pragmatists consider, whereas psychologists see this vital position not quite in the rainbow color:
- pragmatism is not an organic model;
- pragmatists often violate the traditional and moral way of life: for them the result is more important, and not human interaction;
- in many countries pragmatism has proved to be a dead-end path. Uniting people to achieve results - is considered more priority.
Pragmatism in religion
The concept of pragmatism has its roots in religion. A person belonging to one or another confession interacts with the divine principle through the experience of self-restraint: fasting, prayer, deprivation of sleep, practice of silence - these are the practical tools developed over the centuries that help to enter a special state of union with God. Pragmatism is most expressed in the Protestant principle of freedom of conscience - the right to personal freedom of choice and belief.
How to develop pragmatism?
Is it worth developing in oneself qualities, which on closer examination by many people are condemned? All is not so critical, and pragmatism in moderate use is a good strategy in achieving sustainable results. The development of pragmatism is built on the tracking and use of a number of methods in his life:
- starting with small tasks and goals - bringing them to the logical conclusion;
- effective time management: keeping a diary, which spells out all daily activities by the hour;
- planning short-term and long-term goals (timelines, tools for implementation, a list of contacts of people that may be useful);
- fragmentation of large tasks into step-by-step stages;
- self-discipline: find distractions and eliminate them, adhering to the intended plan;
- work with emotions: developing in oneself calmness and cold-bloodedness;
- the method of "deception of consciousness" is that a person says to himself "I'll work a little and watch a movie, take a walk", etc. This helps to stimulate the subconscious mind to work, then necessarily give yourself the promised reward.