What do you understand the term Pragmatism?

Pragmatism is an American philosophy which is action oriented. Most of the ‘pragmatists’ were Puritans. They faced lot of problems which had no ready-made solutions.

It was felt that old ideas who not of help to them for their problems. Hence, they made several experiments and out of those experiments came up the philosophy of pragmatism. Thus, it is an action oriented philosophy.

Pragmatists built up a philosophy of life which was based on their own experiments and experiences. They had formed their own conclusions. They felt that values of idealistic and other type of schools had failed them and the other people of the world.

Thus, it was found that values are useless if fixed in advance. The values were men-made. It is a utilitarian philosophy and does not keep values in centre.

Charles Sander Pierce was the originator and first exponent of Pragmatism. The next in the line were John Dewey, William James and Shiller.

“It was pointed out that the word ‘Pragmatism’ has been derived from a Greek word ‘Pragmatikos’. The Greek word ‘pragma’ means ‘work done’. According to different views, they are Humanistic, experimental and biological.

The humanist’s pragmatists believe that whatever fulfils man’s purpose is true. Experimental pragmatists finalize truth after verification. Biological pragmatists believe that man’s capacity for shaping his own destiny in the environment. Man creates his own environment.

Pragmatism does not believe in a pre-determined and fixed aim in life. It argues, when nothing is pre-determined and absolutely true, how can aims of education be pre-determined. Aim of life changes with the changing times, places and circumstances.

Hence, aims of education cannot be pre-determined which hold good and true to all children at all times, places and circumstances as a result of which there should &e different aims of education for different children for different times and circumstances.

According to pragmatism, the only aim of education is to develop a dynamic, flexible and adaptable mind which is always resourceful and enterprising and is able to create new values for an unknown future. Thanks to it, the child grows and develops more and more and faces the ever changing problems boldly. Thus he achieves a happier, a better and a richer life.

According to this philosophy formation of new society is the main aim of education. Only society- centred education is justified. It is the centre of the hopes of society which would make life more successful. Since truth itself is changeable, growth and development alone can be the proper aim of education.

John Dewey, the famous pragmatist argues that education and life are one. Philosophy can be wisely applied to education only when its growth is regarded as the foundation of life. Life implies growth and activity and education is born of grow.

Thus growth is the real function of education. The end of growth is more growth and end of education is more education. Pragmatism is a clear improvement over the old method of education.

It modified static aims by introducing of direct acquaintance with the world – an acquaintance, which disclosed the world as changing and not static. The key features of this philosophy are as follows:

a. Pragmatism regards the child as a potential creator of values in a given environment.

b. Pragmatism always tends to stress action rather than reflection.

c. This philosophy is pluralistic.

d. Emphasis on ‘learning by doing’.

e. Importance on manpower.

f. Emphasis on the principle of utility

g. Deep faith in Democracy.

h. Changing nature of truth.