Pragmatism was introduced by:

Pragmatism was introduced by: (a) Charles S. Peirce (b) John Dewey (c) Charles Darwin (d) William James ✅ Correct Option: (a) Charles S. Peirce Explanation: Pragmatism as a philosophical movement was introduced by Charles Sanders Peirce in the late 19th century. He is regarded as the founder of pragmatism, although the philosophy was later popularized and expanded by William James and John Dewey. Peirce introduced pragmatism as a method of clarifying ideas by examining their practical consequences. According to him, the meaning of any concept lies in its observable practical effects. Peirce believed that knowledge is not absolute or final; instead, it evolves through inquiry, experimentation, and verification. Truth, in pragmatism, is what works in practice and withstands testing over time. This idea later influenced educational philosophy, especially through John Dewey, who applied pragmatism directly to education by emphasizing learning by doing, problem-solving, and experience-based learning. While Dewey is often mistakenly credited as the introducer of pragmatism because of his major role in education, historically the credit goes to Charles S. Peirce. Darwin contributed to evolutionary theory, not pragmatism, and William James helped spread pragmatism but did not introduce it. 10 PPSC-Relevant Facts: 1. Pragmatism originated in America 2. Founder: Charles S. Peirce 3. William James popularized pragmatism 4. John Dewey applied pragmatism to education 5. Truth is tested by practical results 6. Knowledge is changeable 7. Learning is experience-based 8. Rejects absolute truths 9. Strong link with democracy 10. Frequently tested PPSC philosophy MCQ