Single Idea 18982

[catalogued under 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 Reference

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.