What does a pragmatic person mean? The meaning of the word pragmatism

Pragmatists are people who do not recognize authorities. They doubt everything that surrounds them, but at the same time their behavior is purely rational and depends on the actions of other people. At the same time, it cannot be said that they are reflexive and act rashly. On the contrary, to act pragmatically means to act rationally, even selfishly, based on personal interests or the interests of those around them.

What's important and what's not

Pragmatists are also those who recognize that everything in the world is bought and sold and has its price. It doesn't matter to them what beliefs or moral qualities their opponent has. What is important is what he offers or sells, and, therefore, what benefits can be obtained from the transaction. It is not important whether these are transactions of economic exchange, obtaining financial or symbolic, moral profit. The main thing is not to lose money or end up as a loser. Therefore, it is fundamentally important to obtain a concrete result from your actions. If there is no result, then the actions are regarded exclusively as non-pragmatic.

Design

In addition, pragmatists are people of one project. No, they don't live one day at a time. Cold calculation and lack of emotionality when solving business problems make them care about others, probably to a greater extent than a sensitive person who is prone to rash decisions. However, they will not do anything if they do not understand why they need it. Having solved one project, they always begin to solve the second, third, etc. There are no moral assessments - good or bad. There is only an understanding of what is profitable and what is not so good. Therefore, it can be argued that in their personal lives, pragmatists are like behind a stone wall - cozy, comfortable and safe.

Strength

It would also be correct to say that pragmatists are strong people. They don’t ask unnecessary questions and don’t expect stupid answers. They act and earn authority for themselves and the people they love. They do not hide behind other people’s problems, but resolve all controversial issues on their own. Exactly what methods, as they say, is a completely different question. One way or another, the task at hand must be solved.

In any case, a pragmatist is a person who thinks rationally. They make life easier for themselves and those around them. And no unnecessary words or gestures. The simpler the better. They don't dream and don't fly in the clouds. They know their business and almost always achieve their goals.

These include:

Proactivity - actions are always focused on an object or goal. Fast, high quality and meaningful. So, perhaps, it is necessary to form the credo of a pragmatist.

Demandingness - first of all towards yourself. Knowing how to count does not mean wasting money and time. Just like skimping on acquired goods. The flip side of this quality is luck, which is typical only for strong personalities.

Freedom - you cannot achieve something if you do not feel the opportunity to self-actualize. Yes, a person is constrained by some obligations and requirements, but they play a guiding, not a limiting role.

Many people in life have had to deal with people seeking only to gain benefits. Moral and other aspects of life are of secondary importance for them.

Attitudes, beliefs and actions are aimed solely at obtaining results that are useful in a practical sense. Those around him often condemn him for this.

Spontaneity and ingenuousness in the eyes of a pragmatist are stupidity.
Ilya Nikolaevich Shevelev

Pragmatist thinking style

Pragmatists strive to achieve a goal using all currently available opportunities. They will not look for additional information, funds, resources, because this is an unjustified loss of effort and time. Problems are solved as they arise, so as not to be distracted by the main goal - obtaining a specific result, even a small one.

The constant search for new methods, experiments and other actions do not indicate a deviation from the chosen course. This does not come from a desire for novelty, but is dictated by the desire to achieve results as quickly as possible. For this reason, they are ready to listen to other people’s opinions, in the hope of finding the shortest path to the goal.

This approach may seem superficial. It differs from generally accepted norms, and pragmatists give the impression of inconsistent people, devoid of principles. They are of the opinion that everything that happens around depends little on a person’s abilities and desires. The main thing for pragmatists is not to miss the favorable moment when everything goes well. Their belief in the unpredictability and uncontrollability of the world justifies the strategy “today it will be like this, and then according to circumstances.”

It is impossible to influence a pragmatist with emotions and manifestations of feelings, unless they become an objective obstacle to the path or, on the contrary, help in a given situation. They have an excellent sense of the situation, quickly reacting to its changes. They easily cooperate, enthusiastically participating in discussions of important issues and developing collective solutions.

Pessimism and a negative attitude are not typical of these people. The problems that arise are not able to turn them off the chosen path. They approach the decision with a positive attitude, a pragmatist, in simple words, an incorrigible optimist who strives to turn difficult circumstances in their favor. The established worldview does not allow us to overdramatize and take the difficulties that arise too seriously.

Behavior and thinking are flexible. Communication skills are well developed, they can easily imagine themselves in the place of another person and understand the consequences of their actions. They care about other people's opinions exactly to the extent that their future depends on it.

Features of the behavior of a pragmatist

Pragmatic people often achieve success in politics and management. This is due to their character, life attitudes, and thinking style.

They are characterized by:

searching for the shortest paths to making a profit;
quick adaptation to new conditions;
interest in new methods, innovations;
using any means to achieve goals;
creative approach.

They are intelligent, quickly learn new things, using every opportunity to get closer to their goal.

Management values pragmatists for the following qualities:

concentration on obtaining maximum profit, the fastest return on investment;
thinking through the tactical and strategic aspects of the matter in advance;
the ability to influence others, to convince them of the correctness of their ideas;
does not get lost in difficult situations, looks for non-standard ways out of them;
loves bold experiments and introduces innovations.

Disadvantages of pragmatism

Like all other people, pragmatists have not only strengths, but also weaknesses.

They appear as:

indifference to the long-term prospects of a business that will not bring income in the near future;
the desire to achieve quick results at any cost, long waiting is not in their nature;
attention is focused only on the material side of the matter, everything else does not matter;
from the outside it seems that for the sake of profit they are ready to make any compromises;
tendencies towards maximalism, they try to get the greatest return from all available resources.

Pragmatists will not worry about failure for long. They will look for new ways if old methods no longer work. Having drawn conclusions from the mistakes made, they will not repeat them in the future.
They understand that they need to work hard to achieve their goal.

They will not rely on outside support; they are accustomed to relying only on themselves. They can help if you ask them about it. If in the future there is an opportunity to compensate for the costs, then the applicant’s chances increase significantly.

Inactivity is impossible for them; a pragmatist is a person who, with his optimism, is able to motivate those around him to achieve hard work. Developed intuition allows you to choose from many options one that is effective and quickly gives results.

A cynic, a romantic, a lyricist, a pragmatist - absolutely everyone dreams that someday “scarlet sails” will appear on their life horizon.
Oleg Roy

Pragmatist and relationships with others

When communicating with others, a pragmatic person makes a pleasant impression. He is open to communication, likes to joke, does not argue, and easily finds contact with any people. In conversation he often uses examples from life and stereotypical phrases. The tone of statements is often enthusiastic and enthusiastic, which sometimes gives the impression of hypocrisy and insincerity.

Often offers simple ideas, briefly explaining them with examples from personal practice. He does not shy away from exchanging opinions and organizes collective discussions of important issues. Considers serious debates boring. He prefers real, practically implementable proposals to theoretical and philosophical long-term reasoning. Being in a tense state gives the impression of a bored person who is not interested in the issues being discussed.

Most successful politicians and businessmen, artists and singers, managers and producers achieved their positions in the profession thanks to the use of sober calculation. They do not tend to stray from the intended path, being distracted by sentimental thoughts and wasting energy on emotional actions. In life they are guided only by cold calculation.

Public opinion

It is not uncommon to hear negative comments about successful people.

The following traits of pragmatists cause indignation:

Cynicism. The belief that everything has a price in monetary terms and that you can do anything to achieve positive results causes rejection. As a result, others consider them immoral.
Lack of authority. For pragmatists who seek profit in everything, only their own interests are important. They can listen to someone else's opinion, but will only take it into account if it suits their interests. In other cases, they will not rely on other people’s words, authority and actions.
Selfishness. All efforts are made only to achieve the set goal. On the way to her, he will not be stopped by other people's emotions and losses. They are not interested in the interests of others, since the main thing in life is the result at any cost.

It is these qualities that cause a negative attitude that are necessary for the implementation of the plan. These people do not stop in front of obstacles; difficulties only strengthen their character. All this allows you to finish the job you started.

Conclusion

Anyone can develop the best traits of pragmatism. To do this, you need to set specific goals, plan for the future, bring what you started to the end, without giving in to difficulties. There are not so many people who can be called pure pragmatists. In most cases, one person has different abilities, inclinations and desires to varying degrees.

Modern conditions require people to be able to plan, adapt to the fast pace of life, and quickly respond to changing circumstances. A practical approach allows you to achieve success, so we can say that a pragmatist is a person who is goal-oriented, and feelings and emotions do not matter much to him.

They are often disliked, envied for their assertiveness and energy. As a rule, ill-wishers are weak-willed, weak-willed individuals. Do you consider yourself a pragmatist or their critics?

Hello dear readers. Today we will talk about what a pragmatic person means. You will learn what the characteristic manifestations of such a personality are. Find out what pragmatism is. Find out what the disadvantages of this condition are. Let's talk about how you can develop it in yourself.

Definition of pragmatism

The meaning of the word implies a predisposition to follow narrow, practical interests, search for benefits for oneself, build a line of behavior, search for useful acquisitions, valuable results. The point is to formulate clear goals and search for options for achieving them, as well as implementation. Pragmatic individuals are characterized by common sense and prudence.

Pragmatism is often viewed as a negative character trait. Some people are convinced that in a person it indicates the presence of cynicism and commercialism. The fact is that pragmatists skillfully ignore everything that interferes with the implementation of their plan and distribute all their time by minute. And if we consider commercialism, then a pragmatic person is not characterized by prudence and pettiness.

Who are pragmatists?

A pragmatic person is an individual whose judgments are primarily based on practice. Such a person sets a clear goal for himself, does everything to achieve it, calmly solving any problems that arise along the path of life. Such a person will not think about the past, he will plan more.

Such people:

responsible;
executive;
mandatory;
They are demanding of others and themselves too.

There are a number of qualities that describe a pragmatist.

Any event, action or object is evaluated from the point of view of benefit. Such an individual does not think about how beautiful his outfit looks, the main thing is that it is comfortable.
Result-oriented. It will be difficult for such a person to understand the need of other people for a hobby that has no income.
Pragmatic women are excellent housewives, creating cleanliness and comfort.
They enjoy small joys, value the comfort of home, and do not see the point in luxury.
There may be a craving for art, however, there is no admiration for it.
Pragmatists are not emotional people, and they will not build castles in the air or romantic images.
Such individuals live in the real world, they know how to get what they want.
Such people are responsible and proactive, they can come up with something new and bring it to life. There are many pragmatists among scientists. This quality not only does not hinder discoveries, but also promotes them.
Discipline, the need to complete all tasks to the end.

Those around a pragmatist may have negative feelings towards him. This happens for a number of reasons:

the pragmatist looks cynical, he believes that everything can be bought and sold, and this indicates his insensitivity;
he does not trust anyone, he always questions the actions and words of other people, such a person has no authority;
pragmatists behave selfishly.

How to become a pragmatic person

Set a goal for yourself. Spend all your time thinking about it.
Think about how you can achieve results, what “tools” will be the most suitable.
Plan ahead. Pragmatic people are not dreamers, because they always think about how to turn any idea into reality. Even if there is a feeling that some of your plans cannot be realized, perhaps they need to be slightly adjusted, transformed into something feasible.
If you start something, don’t leave it unfinished, no matter how difficult it may seem to you. Once you have overcome and gone through this difficult path, having solved a difficult problem, you will have more self-confidence.
You need to learn to think strategically. Try to remember all your desires that remained unfulfilled. Choose from these events the most significant for you, think about how to bring it to life. In particular, you need to think about whether outside help will be needed or whether there will be any financial costs. Determine what might make it difficult to achieve your goal.
Learn to plan first for a week in advance, then for a month, then for a year. So you will learn to determine what awaits at the end of the journey. In addition, having a clear schedule of his tasks, a person gets more done, he has time to do things that have long been waiting in the wings.
You need to learn how to build logical chains. In this case, you need to make a wish list, choose one, write an indicative plan that will allow you to achieve it.

When setting out to create some kind of life goal, you must adhere to a certain sequence of actions.

We decide on a clear goal.
We calculate the required money, time and other costs necessary to achieve the goal, as well as possible obstacles.
We draw up a clear plan for the implementation of the idea, we begin to implement everything step by step, in accordance with the points of the plan.
We do not move on to a new stage until the previous one is completed.

Now you know the definition of pragmatism in simple words. A person must understand that it is important to regularly make plans, even for situations that seem fantastic and unattainable. If a person makes certain plans and sets goals, this will allow him to achieve personal development, because a serious incentive will appear.

Pragmatism is a familiar word and people often hear it in such terms as: pragmatism, pragmatic person. In the usual average view, the term is associated with something integral, solid, efficient and rational.

Pragmatism - what is it?

Since ancient times, people have sought to give everything a name and explanation for the practical purpose of passing on knowledge to the next generation. Translated from other Greek. pragmatism is “action”, “deed”, “kind”. In its main meaning, it is a philosophical movement based on practical activity, as a result of which the stated truth is confirmed or refuted. The founding father of pragmatism as a method is an American philosopher of the 19th century. Charles Pierce.

Who is a pragmatist?

A pragmatist is a person who is a supporter of the philosophical direction - pragmatism. In modern everyday meaning, a pragmatic person is a strong personality, which is characterized by:

predominance of logical and;
strategicity;
denies idealism;
checks everything in practice (“people of action”);
knows how to plan his time wisely;
the goal must have a specific result in the form of benefits;
achieves everything himself;
manages his life as much as possible;

Is pragmatism good or bad?

If we consider any personality quality, moderation is important in everything. A positive personality trait in an exaggerated, redundant version turns into a trait with a minus sign, and pragmatism is no exception. A person who is accustomed to achieving his goals can “go over his head” without taking into account the feelings of others, while becoming tougher every time. In society, such individuals are more likely to cause envy - people see the successful result of their activities, but do not imagine what efforts the pragmatist had to expend and think that he is just “lucky” with connections.

Pragmatism in philosophy

The use of the ideas of pragmatism, which became an independent method only in the 19th century, can be traced among ancient philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle. Pragmatism in philosophy is the views that have come to replace or counterbalance the idealistic current, “detached from reality,” as Charles Pierce believed. The main postulate, which has become the famous “Peirce’s principle,” explains pragmatism as action or manipulation with an object and obtaining a result in the course of practical activity. The ideas of pragmatism continued to develop in the works of other famous philosophers:

W. James (1862 - 1910) philosopher-psychologist - created the doctrine of radical empiricism. In research he turned to facts, behavioral acts and practical actions, rejecting abstract ideas unconfirmed by experience.
John Dewey (1859-1952) saw his task as developing 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 should serve people as tools that change people's lives for the better.
R. Rorty (1931-2007), a neo-pragmatist philosopher, believed that any knowledge, even through experience, 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 are mostly men. The trend of today shows that women are equally successful in achieving their goals. The pragmatic approach in psychology divides manifestations into successful (useful) and useless (braking on the path to success). Pragmatists believe that caution and pragmatism are the key to a good life, while psychologists do not see this life position in entirely rosy terms:

pragmatism is not an organic model;
pragmatists often violate the traditional and moral way of life: for them the result is more important than human interaction;
In many countries, pragmatism has shown itself to be a dead end. Bringing people together to achieve results is considered a higher priority.

Pragmatism in religion

The concept of pragmatism has its origins in religion. A person belonging to one or another faith interacts with the divine principle through the experience of self-restraint: fasting, prayer, deprivation of sleep, the practice of silence - these are those practical tools developed over centuries that help to enter a special state of unity with God. Pragmatism is most expressed in the Protestant principle of freedom of conscience - the right to personal freedom of choice and belief.

Pragmatism- a philosophical view that sees the most vivid expression of human essence in action and puts the value or lack of value of thinking depending on whether it is an action, whether it serves action, life practice.

Charles Sanders Pierce(1839-1914) - American philosopher, logician, mathematician and natural scientist, became the founder of pragmatism.

Peirce's philosophical views combine two opposing trends:

positivist (empirical);
objective-idealistic.

Peirce denied innate ideas and intuitive knowledge. The philosopher argued that the starting point of knowledge is “appearance.”

According to Peirce, the concept of an object can be achieved only by considering all the practical consequences that follow from actions with that object. Any knowledge about an object is always incomplete and refutable, hypothetical. This situation applies not only to everyday knowledge and natural scientific knowledge, but also to mathematical and logical judgments, the universality of which can be refuted by counterexamples.

William James(1862-1910) - American philosopher and psychologist, one of the brightest representatives of pragmatism.

In the theory of knowledge, James recognizes the exceptional significance of experience. In his works, he rejects the significance of abstract, absolute principles and explores the concrete:

facts;
actions;
behavioral acts.

Contrasting rationalistic and empirical methods, he created a doctrine called radical empiricism.

According to James, the truth of knowledge is determined by its usefulness for the success of our behavioral acts and actions. James turned success not only into the only criterion for the truth of ideas, but also into the very content of the concept of truth: for a thinker, truth reveals the meaning of moral virtue, and not the completeness of semantic information about the object of knowledge.

Pragmatists, not excluding James, accused all previous philosophy of being divorced from life, abstract and contemplative. Philosophy, according to James, should contribute not to understanding the first principles of existence, but to the creation of a general method for solving problems that people face in various life situations, in the flow of constantly changing events.

According to James, we are really dealing with what is experienced in our experience, which constitutes the “stream of consciousness”: experience is never given to us initially as something definite.

Any objects of knowledge are formed by our cognitive efforts in the course of solving life problems. The goal of thinking is the choice of means that are necessary to achieve success.

John Dewey(1859-1952) - American philosopher, one of the most interesting representatives of pragmatism. The fundamental concept of the philosophy of this thinker is experience, by which we mean all forms of manifestation of human life.

According to Dewey, cognition is a tool for human adaptation to the environment, both natural and social. And the measure of the truth of a theory is its practical expediency in a given life situation. Practical expediency is a criterion not only of truth, but also of morality.

American pragmatism

Pragmatism As a special philosophical movement, it occupies an important place in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. and in subsequent years. The term "pragmatism" etymologically comes from the Greek word meaning deed, action.

Founder of pragmatism- American scientist and philosopher Charles Sanders Pierce(1839 - 1914). Peirce developed the principles of pragmatism by the early 70s. XIX century They were outlined by him in two articles: “Fixing Beliefs” and “How to Make Our Ideas Clear,” published at the end of 1877 and beginning of 1878. At first these articles went unnoticed.

Only in the late 90s. the prominent American psychologist and philosopher William James (1842 - 1910) gave Peirce's ideas a form accessible to the perception of the educated public.

Following James, the outstanding philosopher John Dewey (1859 - 1952) joined pragmatism.

Supporters of this philosophy were also found outside the United States. Pragmatism- this combines the ideas of “second”, “” and contains in its content some ideas that are characteristic only of pragmatism. The specificity of pragmatism is found in the understanding of the concept of scientific language. Thus, for the Machians, as representatives of the “second positivism,” theoretical concepts were represented only as signs, hieroglyphs for the economical description and systematization of the facts of experience, reduced to sensations and complexes of sensations. Nietzsche considered in concepts and laws the means to achieve the goals of knowledge. Bergson believed that concepts, like the intellect that produces them, are applicable to fixing the world of “solid bodies” and are not suitable for comprehending movement and life. Representatives of pragmatism, along with the denial of the objective cognitive role of concepts, put at the center of their attention the question of their meaning, as well as the means of establishing it. Philosophers belonging to this direction tried to connect the world of concepts, ideas and judgments with the world of objects with the help of meaning connecting these worlds. They defended the idea that the meaning of a concept is determined by its relationship not to the object, but to the subject. According to them, meaning should be considered in terms of the practical consequences that result from our use of a certain concept.

The developers of the philosophy of pragmatism believed that their theory of meaning would help clarify the true meaning of the problems that interested them. This will allow for a reorganization, according to James, of all philosophy, or, according to Dewey, it should consist in philosophy ceasing to explore problems that interest only philosophers, but turning to “human problems.” To do this, she needs not just to contemplate and copy reality, but to become a means of helping people solve their life problems.

The philosophy of pragmatism did not represent a single and clearly developed doctrine. There are differences in the views of its adherents. Thus, Peirce understood pragmatism mainly as a theory of thinking and a method of establishing the meaning of concepts. James developed pragmatism primarily as a cognitive theory and ethical teaching that supported belief in God. Dewey saw the basis of pragmatism in instrumental logic, or in the doctrine of problematic situations that accompany multifaceted human experience.

The views of the founder of pragmatism, Peirce, were formed under the influence of the ideas of the English philosophers Berkeley and Hume, Mill and Spencer, as well as the ideas of representatives of German idealism. A special role in the formation of the views of the American philosopher was played by the everyday consciousness of American society of that time with its spirit of “common sense” and practicality.

Peirce's philosophy took shape in the process of his criticism of the ideas of R. Descartes, who, from the standpoint of rationalism, considered it possible to achieve comprehensive knowledge. For Peirce, achieving such knowledge is problematic. In his opinion, a person is able to achieve only relative knowledge. But such knowledge, according to Peirce, is quite enough to act successfully. From his point of view, thinking is only an adaptive reaction necessary for human activity. According to Peirce, man is a doubting creature, but for the sake of success in activity, he must overcome doubt and achieve faith, which mediates the habit of action. In other words, a person should strive not so much for truth as for faith. The latter is formed on the basis of comprehension of meaning. According to Peirce, the concept of the effects produced by an object is the complete concept of the object. Moreover, what a thing means is simply the habits it causes, and “the idea of a thing is the idea of its sensible consequences.” In other words, the idea of a thing is revealed in the personality behavior that it causes. Explaining the meaning of this idea, called “Peirce’s principle,” W. James notes: “Our beliefs are actual rules for action.”

According to Peirce, pragmatism is the doctrine that every concept acts as a concept of conceivable and practical consequences.

The American thinker paid important attention to clarifying the meaning of beliefs and beliefs. As methods for consolidating faith, of which, in his opinion, there are many, he paid special attention to the methods of perseverance, authority, and also included the a priori method and the method of science among those significant for this purpose.

Peirce's ideas were further developed in the works of W. James. W. James outlined the main thoughts related to the philosophy of pragmatism in his two-volume work, which placed him among the outstanding philosophers, “Principles of Psychology” (1890). In 1890, he joined the English Society of Defenders of Empirical Philosophy against the Hegelianism that had become widespread. This step meant that objective idealism with its belief in the reality of the existence of things and the assumption of the possibility of their adequate knowledge was unacceptable for James. He saw the main drawback of the philosophy of Hegelianism in its isolation from life, in insufficient attention to man, on the one hand, and in the overestimation of arbitrarily established requirements for his activity, on the other.

Rejection of previous philosophy led to the acceptance and further development of Peirce's ideas, which was reflected in his works “The Will to Believe” (1897) and “The Varieties of Religious Experience” (1902). In these writings, he considers religious faith as a means of establishing a connection between people and the world, as well as the basis for organizing a person’s relationship to the world. However, the choice of faith is left to the individual. At the same time, that one of the faiths will, according to James, be recognized as the most rational, which more effectively stimulates a person’s active impulses. The philosopher believes that whatever the faith, the essence of the Divine does not change. In these works, W. James seeks to weaken religious fanaticism and rationalize religious faith, turning it into a means of helping a person realize free but meaningful action.

The philosophy of W. James was presented in a concentrated form in his essay “Pragmatism” (1907). The book is compiled from eight lectures given by the philosopher in the same year in Boston and New York. James begins this book by proving the usefulness of philosophy, but not all philosophy, but only empirical philosophy, since it more effectively connects a person with the real world. Pragmatism is precisely an empirical philosophy that does not send positive religious constructs “out the door.” The advantage of pragmatism, according to James, is that it offers only a method and does not impose immutable truths, dogmas, or theories. Pragmatism teaches that scientific knowledge is relative. In other words, human knowledge has limits. However, the information that a person is able to acquire may be sufficient for more or less effective practice. In his approach to explaining reality, James uses the principles of pluralism and indeterminism. The knowledge obtained in this way, according to the ideas of the American philosopher, can be true. In his opinion, “...an idea becomes true, becomes true thanks to events. Its truth is actually an event, a process, and precisely the process of its verification, self-test. Its value and meaning is the process of its confirmation.” James goes on to say: “True,” to put it briefly, is merely expedient in the manner of our thinking, just as “just” is merely expedient in the mode of our conduct. Thus, the criticism of rationalistic idealism carried out by W. James, along with defending the idea of the relative reliability of the information we receive and the plurality of ways to obtain it, leads to the reduction of truth to value, and this opens the way to moral dishonesty, political arbitrariness, scientific dishonesty, economic permissiveness .

Among the developers of the principles of the philosophy of pragmatism, D. Dewey became the most famous. In order to separate his interpretation of experience from that characteristic of classical empiricism, he called his doctrine “instrumentalism.” Dewey's main works are devoted to issues of pedagogy: “School and Society” (1899); “Democracy and Education” (1916), etc.; problems of anthropology, human behavior and cognition: “Human nature and behavior”, (1922); "Experience and Nature" (1925); philosophical logic: “Studies in Logical Theory” (1903); "How We Think" (1916); "Logic: Theory of Research" (1939)); axeology: “Evaluation Theory” (1939)); theories of democracy: “Liberalism and social action” (1935).

In his works devoted to pedagogy, Dewey, along with an analysis of the problems of education and upbringing, also touches on philosophical issues related to the theory of knowledge. Here he put forward the idea that the purpose of education is to increase effective social activity; in addition, following his predecessors, Dewey argues that the main things in human cognition are consequences that matter for behavior. Cognition, according to W. James, serves as a means of adaptation to the environment. People's lives are impossible without the use of knowledge. According to Dewey, philosophical knowledge plays a special role here. For him, philosophy is “an attempt to comprehend the world, seeking to collect the various details of the surrounding life into a universal whole.” He believes that “philosophy... has a double task: criticism of existing goals in relation to the achieved level of science (at the same time, it indicates which values have become outdated with the development of new resources, and which are simply sentimental dreams, since there are no means of their implementation) and interpretation of the results of specific sciences in relation to future social aspirations.” He further notes: “Philosophy is a form of thinking that, like all thinking in general, arises from uncertainty in the objective content of experience, seeks to determine the nature of the misunderstanding and put forward hypotheses to clarify it, subject to verification in action... Since education is precisely that process , through which the necessary reform is possible, and not just a hypothetical search, we receive confirmation of the thesis that philosophy is the theory of education as a purposefully carried out pedagogical practice.”

In order to streamline thinking, according to Dewey, it is necessary to combine common sense and the achievements of science. Ideas, in his opinion, act as tools for practice. When using them, it is necessary to keep in mind that they need to be adjusted and improved as new problematic situations, anxious expectations and doubts arise. Only in this case can ideas be a means of resolving problematic situations and situations of doubt. What is presented briefly reveals the essence of Dewey's instrumentalism.

One of the important tasks of philosophy, according to Dewey, is the development of a theory of values and the inculcation on its basis of ideas about values that can help people correctly determine their goals and means of achieving them in the world.

As a philosopher, Dewey was irreconcilable with totalitarianism and utopianism. He believed that for a decent person there is only one way to realize freedom - to increase it for other people.

American pragmatism played an important role in the formation of practical philosophy in the United States, the implementation of which gave significant results in organizing the life support of the population of this country.