Pragmatism
- “what is pragmatism philosophy”
- “does pragmatism mean whatever works”
- “who invented pragmatism”
- “what is the pragmatic maxim”
:: COMPARE ::
PragmatismvsRationalism
The short answer
Rationalism asks what follows from the concept; pragmatism asks what would show up in experience if the concept held. Different tests rather than different answers — which is why pragmatism is better described as a method for clarifying meaning than as a set of conclusions.
Side by side
| Aspect | Pragmatism | Rationalism |
|---|---|---|
| Test | Practical consequences | Logical entailment |
| Clarifies | Meaning | Necessity |
| Is a | Method | Source of knowledge |
| Home | America, 1870s | Europe, 17th c. |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Pragmatism rather than Rationalism are usually searching for phrases like “what is pragmatism philosophy”, “does pragmatism mean whatever works”, “who invented pragmatism”.
Read either one in full