Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking

“Philosophy’s results concern us all most vitally, and philosophy’s queerest arguments tickle agreeably our sense of subtlety and ingenuity.”

At the very start, James draws his audience into the lectures by establishing that philosophy holds universal interest and importance. He is aiming his lectures at non-specialists who are curious about the fundamental questions addressed by philosophy and who delight in following philosophical arguments.

“The pragmatic method is primarily a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable.”

James uses an anecdote about a squirrel to illustrate the principle that two seemingly contradictory sides can often coexist. Just as James mediated in the squirrel dispute to show that there was no fundamental disagreement between the two sides, so the pragmatic method advances philosophy by showing where misunderstandings might lie and thus bringing opposing sides together.

“There can be no difference anywhere that doesn’t make a difference elsewhere.”

Part of the job of pragmatism is to ask what difference a particular philosophical theory would make in real life. If there is no difference in the consequences of two particular theories, then pragmatism concludes that there is no real difference between them. If, on the other hand, there is a real difference or consequence, then pragmatism can appraise the value of the theories.