Pragmatism
The meaning and truth of an idea are tested by its practical consequences
Key ideas
- An idea is a tool for action
- Truth is what proves itself in experience
- Knowledge is always open to revision
- Democracy and learning by doing (Dewey)
Key thinkers
- Charles Sanders Peirce (founder) — American philosopher, logician and scientist, 1839–1914
- William James — American philosopher and psychologist, 1842–1910
Grew out of
- British empiricism c. 1620 – 1780 · Europe
Meanwhile elsewhere
- Confucianism Asia
- Buddhist philosophy Asia
- Taoism Asia
- Nyaya Asia
- Madhyamaka Asia
- Yogachara Asia
- Chan and Zen Asia
- Advaita Vedanta Asia
- Kalam Middle East
- Neo-Confucianism Asia
- Utilitarianism Europe
- Positivism Europe
- Russian religious philosophy Eastern Europe & Russia
- Existentialism Europe
- Marxism Europe
- Russian cosmism Eastern Europe & Russia
- Phenomenology Europe
- Analytic philosophy Europe
- Kyoto School Asia
- Structuralism Europe
- Logical positivism Europe
- Négritude Africa
- Postmodern philosophy Europe