Pragmatic and Analytic Philosophy

Pragmatism and analytic philosophy are unique American movements that were vastly different from European philosophy. Pragmatic philosophy believed that for truth to exist it is relative to a time and place and purpose and is always changing due to new data( Moore & Bruder, 2008). This form of philosophy rejected the possibility of fixed, absolute truth. Analytic philosophy is when a complex idea is broken down into smaller concepts that are more easily understood. There are many different forms of analytic philosophy and they include; logical atomism, phenomenalism, and foundationalism. This form of philosophy makes the attempt to resolve philosophical problems with the use of analysis of language and meaning.

During the same time period, European philosophers were taking a different approach to philosophy. If an idea made sense to one philosopher, it was their belief that it must then be true. An example of this would be that European philosophers believed in the existence of Olympian Gods however the American analytical philosophers did not follow that belief. The analytic philosophers thought there was no reason to believe in these Gods without solid proof or data.

These philosophy were all important to philosophy today, however they all had their own different beliefs. These different beliefs are what make them all unique.