pragmatism

(n) Not being completely retarded.

Conor: Russia are awesome! They should win Euro 2008! (beams with hopeful excitement)
Richard: Nah, Germany will win it (drones with hopeless resignation)
Conor: DAMN YOUR PRAGMATISM! (pops a cap in Richad's ass)

by ConorJP June 24, 2008

Pragmatism of Fallacies

The strategic, conscious use of known logical fallacies because they are effective in achieving a desired real-world outcome (persuasion, mobilization, simplification) within a specific audience or context, even while acknowledging they are formally invalid. It treats fallacies as tools in a rhetorical toolkit, to be used when the goal is influence, not truth-preserving debate. It's rhetoric over logic, impact over integrity.

Pragmatism of Fallacies Example: A political campaign using the Bandwagon Fallacy ("Everyone is voting for Candidate A, join the winning team!") is employing the Pragmatism of Fallacies. They know it's not a logical argument about the candidate's merits, but they also know it works on human psychology to drive turnout and create momentum, so they use it as a calculated tool.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026

Logical Pragmatism

A philosophical approach that judges the validity of ideas, arguments, and beliefs primarily by their practical consequences and usefulness in navigating the world, rather than by their abstract, formal logical purity or their correspondence to an absolute "truth." If a belief leads to successful prediction, effective action, or psychological well-being, it holds pragmatic value, even if it contains logical imperfections or is unprovable in a closed system.

Example: Believing in free will, despite philosophical debates about determinism, is Logical Pragmatism. The belief has immense practical consequences—it underpins our systems of law, morality, and personal motivation. Even if it's logically fuzzy, it's useful and thus, for a pragmatist, holds a form of validity that a perfectly logical but paralyzing belief in absolute determinism does not.

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 3, 2026

pragmatic

Realistic, practical, hardheaded, sensible, real, not fake.

Pamala: I guess Ross thinks he can play me and my best friend like flutes in his little symphony.
David: yah i know Ross, hes not too much of a pragmatic dude, hopefully you are.

by liveit January 7, 2007

Pragmatist

People who recognize that they can not debate their way through life. They need to take action to reach the goals they want. On the path toward accomplishing their goals, they have to take actions that may not be ideal.

Unlike Jim, who lives with his mother and debates people on Discord, I am a pragmatist. I believe doing things in the actual world will lead to my happiness.

by Jorolb December 6, 2020

unfavorable pragmatic indicator

Easy prediction

Too easy

Hey doc what do you think of texts like this from my kids mom

That is what is known as an unfavorable pragmatic indicator

Wow doc you got a four dollar word for everything

by Tonythetiler December 11, 2021

Scientia Pragmatica

The modern day Bible, containing everyone's personal tricks.

(aka SP or scipr pronounced sigh-per)

I'm going on holiday, I'm checking the scientia pragmatica for travel tips.

by Apacheting May 9, 2023