Literary notes about pragmatic (AI summary)
In literature, “pragmatic” is employed to highlight an approach that prioritizes practical outcomes and utilitarian reasoning over abstract theorizing. Philosophers such as William James and John Dewey illustrate this by using a pragmatic method to interpret meaning through its tangible consequences ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5]), thereby grounding metaphysical debates in everyday experience. At the same time, the term appears in historical and legal discourses—often linked to declarations or sanctions intended to address real-world exigencies and secure stability ([6], [7], [8], [9]). Additionally, it is sometimes used to characterize an attitude or temperament that is straightforward and focused on effective, immediate results ([10], [11], [12]).
- On all hands we find the 'pragmatic movement' spoken of, sometimes with respect, sometimes with contumely, seldom with clear understanding.
— from Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James - I tell this trivial anecdote because it is a peculiarly simple example of what I wish now to speak of as THE PRAGMATIC METHOD.
— from Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James - Here, as elsewhere, the only way to extract a term's meaning is to use the pragmatic method on it.
— from Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James - The pragmatic method in such cases is to try to interpret each notion by tracing its respective practical consequences.
— from Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James - The theory of the method of knowing which is advanced in these pages may be termed pragmatic.
— from Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education by John Dewey - This independency of the clergy of France upon the court of Rome seems to be principally founded upon the pragmatic sanction and the concordat.
— from An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith - Treaty of Vienna between Austria and Spain, assenting to the Pragmatic Sanction of Charles VI.
— from The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 13 - Louis IX, by a pragmatic sanction, resists the papal claim to nominate bishops in France.
— from The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 06 (From Barbarossa to Dante) - With this view, He had promulgated a new law of succession, widely celebrated throughout Europe under the name of the Pragmatic Sanction.
— from Critical, Historical, and Miscellaneous Essays; Vol. 5 With a Memoir and Index by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron - But he was pragmatic enough to realize that mere temple idols could not so much as move themselves, let alone that they should wield weapons.
— from Si'Wren of the Patriarchs by Roland Cheney - PRAGMATIC, officious, conceited, meddling.
— from Epicoene; Or, The Silent Woman by Ben Jonson - He considers himself a pragmatic and farsighted altruist.
— from A Short History of EBooks by Marie Lebert
