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Single Idea 18982

[filed under theme 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism ]

Full Idea

The pragmatist view is that all our theories are instrumental, are mental modes of adaptation to reality, rather than revelations or gnostic answers to some divinely instituted world enigma.

Clarification

'gnostic' here means 'spiritual knowledge'

Gist of Idea

Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 5)

Book Ref

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.74

A Reaction

This treats instrumentalism as the pragmatic idea of theories as what works (and nothing more), with, presumably, no interest in grasping something called 'reality'. Presumably instrumentalism might have other motivations - such as fun.

The 20 ideas from 'Pragmatism - eight lectures'

18972 Ideas are true in so far as they co-ordinate our experiences [James]
18973 New opinions count as 'true' if they are assimilated to an individual's current beliefs [James]
18974 Truth is a species of good, being whatever proves itself good in the way of belief [James]
18971 Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas [James]
18975 We return to experience with concepts, where they show us differences [James]
18976 Private experience is the main evidence for God [James]
18978 It is hard to grasp a cosmic mind which produces such a mixture of goods and evils [James]
18977 The wonderful design of a woodpecker looks diabolical to its victims [James]
18979 Things with parts always have some structure, so they always appear to be designed [James]
18980 If there is a 'greatest knower', it doesn't follow that they know absolutely everything [James]
18981 'Substance' is just a word for groupings and structures in experience [James]
18982 Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality [James]
18985 True thoughts are just valuable instruments of action [James]
18986 Truth is just a name for verification-processes [James]
18983 In many cases there is no obvious way in which ideas can agree with their object [James]
18984 True ideas are those we can assimilate, validate, corroborate and verify (and false otherwise) [James]
18987 A 'thing' is simply carved out of reality for human purposes [James]
18989 Pragmatism accepts any hypothesis which has useful consequences [James]
18991 If the God hypothesis works well, then it is true [James]
18990 Nirvana means safety from sense experience, and hindus and buddhists are just afraid of life [James]