Practical solutions needed, reject philosophical pragmatism

Valuing long term strategic vision over immediate results

by Nat Winn

I’ve often heard the call for revolutionaries to be pragmatic, but what I really think they mean is that we need practical solutions, long-term vision, and strategy.

Here is the difference.

Philosophical pragmatism is quintessentially from the U.S. Its major theorists are John Dewey and William James. The main feature of philosophical pragmatism is that it favors immediate utility and outcomes over values. It is short-sighted. Philosophical pragmatism is the reason that capitalists can go on destroying the planet, and neglecting public safety and healthcare as long as in the short term it produces major profits for shareholders of large corporations. Because immediate outcomes are favored, long-term thinking is an afterthought.

This philosophical pragmatism is a capitalist value that has its resonance in progressive and revolutionary movements. It looks like trying to organize larger amounts of people by watering down political messaging with the thought that sometime in the future the organizers will bring their full political vision to light. This is a thought that gets put off again and again and that future usually never arrives.

Philosophical pragmatism in social movements can also look like trying to find quick paths to victory in a political campaign or organizing effort without thinking too much past the immediate campaign and the long term effects of getting politically rich quick schemes.

To be clear, practical politics that organize millions of people around actionable and definable goals are highly necessary. That takes critical thinking and strategy, but also long term vision, something that philosophical pragmatism does not value.

A quick online search will reveal that many philosophers have made this criticism of philosophical pragmatism. It is nothing new. My intention is to write a little about how this capitalist philosophy infiltrates our working class and revolutionary movements and to suggest that we always value having a long-term vision and strategic thinking.