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6. Does pragmatism ignore the existence of metaphysical entities?

Brooklyn Lottrington

Pragmatism is a philosophical school of thought that emphasizes practicality and the consequences of actions. It is based on the idea that knowledge is acquired through experience and observation. In this sense, pragmatism rejects metaphysical entities as they cannot be verified by experience. However, it would be incorrect to say that pragmatism completely ignores the existence of metaphysical entities.

Pragmatism does not reject metaphysics entirely, but it does give it a very different perspective. Pragmatists believe that the value of any philosophical concept lies in its practical application. Therefore, metaphysical concepts are not seen as truth or falsehood in themselves, but rather as tools that can be used to solve practical problems.

For example, let's take the concept of free will. In a metaphysical sense, it is a question of whether individuals have the power to make choices that are not predetermined. From a pragmatic perspective, the question of free will might be rephrased as "What is the effect of believing in free will on human behavior?" This question can be answered empirically through research and observation.

In short, pragmatism does not ignore the existence of metaphysical entities. It simply approaches them from a different angle. From a pragmatic point of view, concepts like free will or causality can be useful when applied to real-life problems, but they cannot be taken as absolute truth without verification through experience.

In conclusion, pragmatism is a philosophy that values practicality over abstract theories. This does not mean that it completely disregards the existence of metaphysical entities. Rather, it challenges us to examine these concepts in a more empirical way to understand how they can be practically applied to solve real-life problems.