Empirical vs Pragmatist - What's the difference?
empirical | pragmatist |
Pertaining to or based on experience.
* H. Spencer
Pertaining to, derived from, or testable by observations made using the physical senses or using instruments which extend the senses.
(philosophy of science) Verifiable by means of scientific experimentation.
One who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.
One who acts in response to particular situations rather than upon abstract ideals; one who is willing to ignore their ideals to accomplish goals.
One who belongs to the philosophic school of pragmatism; one who holds that the meaning of beliefs are the actions they entail, and that the truth of those beliefs consist in the actions they entail successfully leading a believer to their goals.
* 2007 , John Lachs and Robert Talisse, American Philosophy: An Encyclopedia , p. 310.
As an adjective empirical
is pertaining to or based on experience.As a noun pragmatist is
one who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.empirical
English
Adjective
(-)- The village carpenter lays out his work by empirical rules learnt in his apprenticeship.
Synonyms
* empiricAntonyms
* nonempiricalCoordinate terms
* conceptual * theoretical * anecdotalDerived terms
* empiricallySee also
* anecdotal evidence * trial and errorExternal links
* * *pragmatist
English
Noun
(en noun)- A pragmatist would never plant such a messy tree, but I like its flowers.
- I'm not a thief, I am a pragmatist. I need this bread to feed my family.
- We cannot trust him not to lie for his own gain, he's an opportunist and a pragmatist.
- [S]ome pragmatists (such as William James) took a more pantheist or pandeist approach by rejecting views of God as separate from the world.