Utility and Pragmatism
I. Introduction
Pragmatism deals with practical use and fragmented state of thinking. It isolates a specific act and justify it outside the context of a whole being or an separate experience and event.
The value of utility is supposedly making sense of what works and how the world operates. However, there are things that are used for other purposes that works. A screwdriver can be used to harm or kill a person.
II. Activity
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being pragmatic? Cite at least 6 ( 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages)
2. For Christian teachers, can the use of pragmatism as a school of thought be justified with dealing with students. Explain.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being pragmatic? Cite at least 6 ( 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages)
ReplyDeleteAdvantages:
a. Simple: On a positive, simply, put being pragmatic also means being practical or logical. There is value in its simplicity, practicality, and logic. Being simple means it may be easier to process or figure out, not overthinking or overcomplicating things, it may be easier to execute.
b. Tangible/Logical: Pragmatism usually considers also the physical constraints, what is tangible, what will result, or what can be seen. It is consistent with the scientific method, experimenting, trial and error, you will find some solutions work, some are costing less, less energy and complications, you reach a logical, practical, pragmatic solution that works.
c. Replicable/Repeatable: Pragmatism is also advantageous in many areas of life, these are evident in "best-practices", common "solutions", practical pragmatism can be developed like a skill into habits, it can even turn into a reflex.
Disadvantages:
a. Beyond Behavior: the disadvantage is that practicality, or its results may not always mean it is the right thing to do, morally. That is, just because it works doesn't always mean it is right. Simple risk calculations of probabilities and cold logic, resulting in optimal practical decisions, even measurable by numbers, may not consider some other metaphysical qualities, such as truth, rightness/morality, or justice. What seems practical or pragmatic may not be "right" or the more meaningful idea/theory. Just because no one gets hurt (a common pragmatic idea says it is practically alright, having little practical consequences), but say cheating at an exam or stealing, while at the moment in some situations seem to be logical, they are not moral. While pragmatism is useful for many instances, it should not be always or the final factor in decision-making.
b. Arbitrary, Relative to Morality: For example, having a moral dilemma unfold right in front of you when you are running late for something: practicality might call for you ignoring your fellow person, it saves your time and energy, but does not account for others, the needs of others, depending on your threshold of what works or what is practical. There are so much more acts and concepts mostly unseen, including love that can be counted as far from practical, giving: where you will be at a loss (physically in quantity, but gaining in fulfillment, something pragmatism cannot measure).
c. Selfish, Relative to Society: On a societal level, what is pragmatic for you may not be pragmatic or useful or practical to others, how then will your pragmatism practices be guided? Will they be self-serving, or other-serving, the approach is missing the objectivity, and may be relative depending on the situation, leaving us with a lack of clear higher/loftier/nobler standards and principles.
2. For Christian teachers, can the use of pragmatism as a school of thought be justified with dealing with students. Explain.
Most definitely can be used by Christian teachers. There is theory, theology, and the concept of pragmatism. These theories and theology also produces tangible results such as upright behavior, we were made to know God and love others, pragmatism can help us apply our learnings, and interact with others, without overcomplicating things, we can teach others to express God's love as simple, in the way that works with how God has shaped them, in their God's given strengths, talents, personalities-these are pragmatic ways that students can be taught.
In dealing with students, communicating with them, we have best practices/methods, counseling theories applied, case studies, and a library of knowledge and experience that can be pragmatically applied in our interactions, not requiring us to reinvent the wheel. Especially as long as our motives are in-line with [with good motives], practicality comes easier to be practiced, helping teachers deal with students pragmatically.
Paulo F. Cereñno, MACE-GC
ReplyDelete1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being pragmatic? Cite at least 6 (3 advantages and 3 disadvantages)
One of the advantages of being a pragmatic is that they deal with the problem in a practical way. They consider conditions that truly exist, rather than observing fixed norms or ideas. Another merit of a pragmatist is being progressive and optimistic. As dynamic and flexible people they are open to sudden change which lead them to look ahead and create new standards for a better living. Another plus of being a pragmatic is their belief in learning by experience. The latter could be both an advantage and disadvantage. Advantage in the sense that an individual learnt from his or her experience acquired applied values in life. They consider these values as essential for life.
Moreover, being a pragmatist also has disadvantages and one of them is learning by experience as what I have mentioned earlier. They adhere to the thought that by doing or experiencing things is the real acquisition of knowledge. They disregard learning through theories and concepts. Speaking of experience another disadvantage of being pragmatic is, they reject the experience of others and believed only in self-experience of man. The experience of the other person to a certain thing could be or may be different from the other person’s experience. And the only valid experience here is the subject’s experience. Lastly, another demerit of being a pragmatic is how they perceived truth. They believed that there is no fixed standards or absolute truth. Everything changes even values.
2. For Christian teachers, can the use of pragmatism as a school of thought be justified with dealing with students. Explain.
I believed that pragmatism will not in any way justify in dealing with learners. Because pragmatism having no fixed or absolute standards will violate my principles as a Christian teacher. Pragmatism adhere to a belief that man always create new values and standards; being practical and utilitarian. This philosophical thought will allow and encourage learners to embrace their individual experiences which lead them of becoming who they want to be instead of how God design them to be. Yes, to be accustomed with this thought will certainly compromise my belief as a Christian.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being pragmatic? Cite at least 6 (3 advantages and 3 disadvantages)
ReplyDeleteIn my point of view, the advantages of having pragmatic ways are:
a) Positively looking at what is good in every situation. Others choose to see somebody else’s weakness while a pragmatic way of seeing things would push one to focus on that somebody’s strengths and how his strengths be used in terms of team goals.
b) Lifts one’s self concept. Just as how one would choose to see others positively, it may also go internally. Holding on to one’s character (what I am made to be) like values or beliefs would serve as a big factor in overcoming challenges, like admitting one’s fault as a form of honesty.
c) Helps in problem-solving and creativity. A person who thinks in pragmatic ways may have a wider way of seeing how things can be used to solve a problem or create something novel.
The advantages, maybe, are
a) May put value to the usefulness instead regarding them unconditionally. This may be evident in treating a friend or a loved one.
b) May find self as “useless” or has little value simply because of some lack or weakness. For instance, a sibling who is earning the least in the family may keep mum in his opinion at home and allows high-earning siblings to make decisions.
c) There is a possibility of giving emphasis on selfish utility or worldly utility such as voting for a certain leader because he promised jobs instead of checking if this leader’s campaigns are aligned with one’s vision for the organization.
2. For Christian teachers, can the use of pragmatism as a school of thought be justified with dealing with students. Explain.
In the essence of giving emphasis to usefulness, yes. For one, we choose only those that are useful in achieving our goals as teachers/counselors. When we plan our lessons or counseling strategies for them, surely, we have their best interest as the top of the factors we should consider. Another, the practicality in the pragmatic thinking: if we cannot use a strategy due to lack of expertise or resource, our desire to utilize that strategy propels us to go ahead and learn/train for it or to look for other ways to collect the resources. We may even come up with brilliant alternative resources. Lastly, I would like to point out that pragmatism may be used by always finding a way to insert God in situations. As teachers, we have a role of directing our students to God. Positive events such a doing great in an exam is an opportunity to highlight God’s grace. Listening to their problems is a great time to ask “where do you see God in your situation?”. Also, simply modelling to them is useful event for them to see how Jesus works in one’s life.