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What is the difference between pragmatism and realism?

pragmatism | realism |

In philosophy terms the difference between pragmatism and realism

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 realism is a doctrine that universals are real—they exist and are distinct from the particulars that instantiate them.

As nouns the difference between pragmatism and realism

is that pragmatism is the pursuit of practicality over aesthetic qualities; a concentration on facts rather than emotions or ideals while realism is a concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.

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

    realism

    Noun

  • A concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary
  • An artistic representation of reality as it is
  • (sciences) The viewpoint that an external reality exists independent of observation
  • (philosophy) A doctrine that universals are real—they exist and are distinct from the particulars that instantiate them
  • Antonyms

    * (doctrine concerning universals) nominalism

    See also

    * idealism