Evolution of Pragmatism: Analytical Essay

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It is without a doubt that the world is a work in progress. As our society changes, the needs and outlook in life of the people also evolve. Nothing is permanent, so they say. This inevitable change then gives way to a continuous reconstruction of existing realities in order for us to cope with our unending demands. Here, comes the substantial role of pragmatism as a philosophical basis of rejecting or embracing ideologies solely for the betterment of humanity. Pragmatism was developed in the 19th century through renowned philosophers Charles Sanders Pierce, William James, and John Dewey. Being one of the theoretical foundations of research, it believes that there are various ways of giving meaning to the world. It gives emphasis on the plurality of reality and argues that a single point of view can never truly depict the entirety of a tableau. Furthermore, it gives importance on the role of experimentation as a springboard for active learning. Unlike other philosophies, pragmatism regards words and thoughts as keys for action and problem-solving rather than being decorations in our minds t

heoretical concepts which hold no practical values at all. In comparison to the viewpoints of Positivism which upholds that every rationally justifiable assertion can only be scientifically verified through sensory experience and logic and Interpretivism which emphasizes the need to study human action through interpretive means in order to understand the underlying meaning of what individuals attach to their behavior, Pragmatism serves as a middle ground between these two clashing beliefs and adheres to the use of mixed-method research in deciphering the answer to a certain problem under investigation. It also employs the research question as a determinant whether what course of action or what type of approach needs to be done in order to find the truth behind the unknown. Moreover, Pragmatism supports the so-called utilitarian principle which focuses on the greater good of everyone. It judges a proposition as good if it has satisfactorily achieved what it is set out to do regardless of the type of method used, either quantitative or qualitative measures. In its quest to contribute to the existing body of knowledge, Pragmatism retains the Positivists notion of objective truth and use of scientific method while accepting the fact that we are all part of the world we are observing and that we cannot entirely disengage ourselves from what we are searching.

Unlike Idealism, Pragmatism does not believe in fixed and standard values in the world. It believes that the utility of these things is subject to change depending on the circumstance and tune of time. There is no final truth because knowledge continuously undergoes reconstruction and reassessment. The reality, as far as Pragmatism is concerned, is not ready-made but rather in the making which can be redesigned to suit the needs of man in the long run. Indeed, the impact of Pragmatism as a theoretical foundation of research is highly regarded up until the present day. This particular school of thought paved the way for a vast array of opportunities to acquire knowledge and ideologies. Through this, we do not cage ourselves inside the limitations that the contending issues of truth and reality dictate to us instead, we bypass this and continuously strive to achieve what truly works best.

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