A Dictionary of Philosophy, Third Edition
. Originally developed as a theory of meaning by Peirce who was concerned with the meaning of concepts affecting the intellect, especially scientific concepts, rather than those confined to the senses (like red) or emotions. He thought the meaning of such concepts, and of statements in which they appeared, was exhausted by the effects they could have on our experience and actions. When the name became widely used for various related theories he used pragmaticism for his own particular version. This theory can be thought of as a looser form of operationalism (see POSITIVISM), and Peirce expressed an affinity for positivism.
Pragmatism is also often thought of as a theory of truth. Peirce made truth ‘the opinion which is fated to be ultimately agreed to by all who investigate’. He seems to mean that truth is what would be believed if investigation continued indefinitely, whether or not it does continue; it is the limit where belief is finally stabilized. This side of pragmatism was developed by W.James, who differed from Peirce by including, and emphasizing, the effect of concepts on our senses and emotions. Truth, for James, is agreement with reality, but this means that it is what works or satisfies us, in the sense that it is whatever we ultimately find believable or consistent. But he allowed that our emotions might well, and properly, influence what we do ultimately so find.
Other philosophers who have been labelled pragmatists include Dewey, F.C.S.Schiller (1864–1937), C.I.Lewis (1883–1964) and F.P.Ramsey (1903–30). ‘Pragmatism’ is also sometimes used as a general label for views like CONVENTIONALISM and INSTRUMENTALISM, though these (especially instrumentalism) perhaps replace truth, at least in certain contexts, rather than define it.
See also SUPERASSERTIBLE.
B.Aune, Rationalism, Empiricism, and Pragmatism, Random House, 1970. (Chapters 4 and 5 discuss modern versions of pragmatism. Cf. also D.H.Mellor (ed.), Prospects for Pragmatism, Cambridge UP, 1980, essays written in honour of F.P.Ramsey.)
A.J.Ayer, The Origins of Pragmatism, Macmillan, 1968. (Treats Peirce and James.)
J.Buchler (ed.), The Philosophy of Peirce, RKP, 1940. (Selections from Peirce. See especially chapters 2, 3 and 17, and for the quotation p. 38.)
W.B.Gallie, Peirce and Pragmatism, Penguin, 1952.
W.James, Pragmatism, 1907.
W.James, The Meaning of Truth, 1909. (Selected essays, issued to clarify Pragmatism.)
H.Putnam, ‘Pragmatism’, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, supplementary vol., 1995. (Assesses favourably a pragmatist version of verificationism.)
A.Rorty (ed.), Pragmatic Philosophy, 1966. (Anthology.)
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