Pragmatic Paradigm

The pragmatic paradigm refers to a worldview that focuses on “what works” rather than what might be considered absolutely and objectively “true” or “real.” Early pragmatists rejected the idea that social inquiry using a single scientific method could access truths regarding the real world. These pragmatists declared that truth could be judged by its consequences. The pragmatic paradigm is useful for guiding research design, especially when a combination of different approaches is philosophically inconsistent.

Evolution of Pragmatism

Pragmatism as a philosophical movement originated in the 1870s by Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914). Presenting his basic ideas of pragmatism in the series Illustrations of the Logic of Science (1877–1878), Peirce aimed to connect thought and action. Thought produced beliefs, which Peirce defined as entities on which one is prepared ...

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