Pragmatist

Origin

From Ancient Greek πρᾶγμα (pragma, "thing").

Full definition of pragmatist

Noun

1. One who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.A pragmatist would never plant such a messy tree, but I like its flowers.
2. One who acts in response to particular situations rather than upon abstract ideals; one who is willing to ignore their ideals to accomplish goals.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.
3. 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.Some pragmatists (such as William James) took a more pantheist or pandeist approach by rejecting views of God as separate from the world.

Related terms

• pragma
• pragmatically
• pragmatics
• pragmatism