Pragmatism and existentialism are two of the most important concepts in understanding the world. Pragmatism is all about taking action to achieve the desired outcome, while existentialism is more concerned with the individual’s life experience. So, what is the difference between pragmatism and existentialism? In this article, we will explore that question in depth!
What is Pragmatism?
The word pragmatism is derived from the Greek word ‘pragma,’ which means ‘action’ or ‘affair.’ From a philosophical point of view, pragmatism is defined as an “approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application” [Source]. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that “Pragmatism is a philosophical movement that includes those who claim that an ideology or proposition is true if it works satisfactorily, that the meaning of a proposition is to be found in the practical consequences of accepting it, and that unpractical ideas are to be rejected” [Source].
This philosophy prioritizes action over doctrine [Source]. Polybius, a Greek philosopher, described his works as ‘pragmatic’ because “they were intended to be instructive and useful to his readers.”
What is Existentialism?
“Existentialism is the attempt to confront and deal with meaninglessness…to not succumb to nihilism or despair: to give up or avoid responsibility” [Source]. It is also explained as “a philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the person’s existence as a free and responsible agent determining their development through acts of the will” [Source]. According to existentialists, humans must make their own rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. They also argue that people can make their sense of meaning and peace since they are born without purpose into a senseless world.
Differences between Pragmatism and Existentialism
The difference between pragmatism and existentialism is that pragmatism as a noun denotes pursuing practicality over aesthetics. On the other hand, existentialism emphasizes the “uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices.”
“Pragmatism believes that reality is a process. Therefore, goodness is found by trying things out and finding out what works. Existentialism believes that reality must be defined by each autonomous individual” [Source].
A pragmatic person tends to look at the practical side of things, especially in their application. Existentialists are more theoretical in their conduct as compared to pragmatics. Also, pragmatics use history to see whether certain decisions have worked out or not in their practical application. Individuals echo existentialism, and its application is usually more vocal than practical. Pragmatism emphasizes experience since it can teach people the next steps to take, but existentialism is about an individual taking the prescribed route of confronting the meaningless of life. Pragmatism is anti-abstractionist, while existentialism seems to be theorized a lot.
Difference between Pragmatism and Existentialism in Education
Pragmatism argues that things can only be learned through practice, so it brings the aspect of practical learning. Existentialism notes that “every individual is unique and education must cater to the individual differences” [Source]. To pragmatics, education must be about life and growth “that is, teachers should be teaching students things that are practical for life and encourage them to grow into better people” [Source].
Existentialism wants education to develop an individual into a complete man by emphasizing their freedom. Pragmatics encourages the use of practical lessons since they value learners’ lives.
The notable similarity between pragmatism and existentialism is that they are both philosophies that focus on what should be the important aspect in helping humans realize their relevance. They are also relativist philosophies, and they encourage people to take necessary steps which ensure their happiness.
Advantages of pragmatism
The advantage of pragmatism is that it “creates room for exploring how individual experience, knowing and acting are shaped through social interaction” [Source]. It emphasizes the practical life of a child. It also argued that pragmatic education “prepares the child for future life very effectively.” The main advantage of pragmatism is that it allows us to overcome certain limits of traditional rationalism by including sensory experience and social factors in our understanding of reality” [Source].
Disadvantages of pragmatism
The disadvantages of pragmatism are “difficulties of not accepting truth to be permanent” [Source]. It is also despised for materialistic bias because of the absence of any aim of education. It also limits education to learning through doing. Pragmatists are only interested in improving the world through experimentation.
Advantages of existentialism
The advantage of existentialism is it focuses on people being free and making their own choices. Also, it gives people a leeway to define their purpose in life. In education, existentialism influences educators to teach learners about finding a purpose in life. It also points to human experience and personal responsibility.
Disadvantages of existentialism
The disadvantages of existentialism are that it is pessimistic. It tends to focus on the negative side of things. Also, it is pure subjectivity since it is only an individual who can roll out their freedom after assessing the meaningless of life. Existentialism has a weakness in terms of moral relativity and the aspect of quietism. Quietism relates “to what an individual cannot actualize: therefore, another individual should do it” [Source].
When is existentialism better than pragmatism?
Existentialism is better than pragmatism because it focuses on people’s freedom. It pushes education to teach learners how to deal with life and become better citizens for themselves. Existentialists are vital in influencing humans to deal with the meaningless nature of life. It also prioritizes individual differences and unravels the abilities of each person. “At its core, it emphasizes an individual is free and responsible for his existence through acts of his own will.” It is parallel to pragmatism which does not focus much on free will.
When is pragmatism better than existentialism?
Pragmatism is better than existentialism since it focuses on the practical side of things. It influences educators to focus on practical lessons which train learners to be innovative in life. They emphasize improving our world through experimentation and based on experience because it is the best teacher. Under pragmatism, humans can try out different things and see what works. This is different from existentialism which is more of a prescribed theory of what people should do.