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Positivism vs Pragmatism - What's the difference?

positivism | pragmatism |

In philosophy terms the difference between pragmatism and positivism

is that pragmatism is the idea that beliefs are identified with the actions of a believer, and the truth of beliefs with success of those actions in securing a believer's goals; the doctrine that ideas must be looked at in terms of their practical effects and consequences while positivism is a doctrine that states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method, refusing every form of metaphysics.

As nouns the difference between pragmatism and positivism

is that pragmatism is the pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals while positivism is a doctrine that states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method, refusing every form of metaphysics.

positivism

English

(wikipedia positivism) (legal positivism)

Noun

  • (philosophy) A doctrine that states that the only authentic knowledge is scientific knowledge, and that such knowledge can only come from positive affirmation of theories through strict scientific method, refusing every form of metaphysics.
  • Practical spirit, sense of reality, concreteness.
  • (legal) A school of thought in jurisprudence in which the law is seen as separated from moral values, the law is posited by lawmakers (humans).
  • Antonyms

    * (in philosophy) antipositivism

    Derived terms

    * logical positivism * legal positivism * neopositivism

    pragmatism

    Noun

  • The pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals.
  • (politics) The theory that political problems should be met with practical solutions rather than ideological ones.
  • (philosophy) The idea that beliefs are identified with the actions of a believer, and the truth of beliefs with success of those actions in securing a believer's goals; the doctrine that ideas must be looked at in terms of their practical effects and consequences.
  • * 1902 , William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience , Folio Society 2008, p. 378:
  • Our conception of these practical consequences is for us the whole of our conception of the object [...] This is the principle of Peirce, the principle of pragmatism .

    Antonyms

    * idealism * contemplation