THE FAILURE OF PRAGMATISM

 

What is pragmatism? It is the philosophy of living according to what works and brings benefits. However, it is best explained by its proponents.

 

Atheist, humanist, and author of the Humanist Manifesto II, Paul Kurtz, affirmed that pragmatism (not divine moral principles) – what provides benefits – is the only possible justification for morality:

 

·       How are these principles [of equality, freedom, etc.] to be justified? They are not derived from a divine or natural law nor do they have a special metaphysical [beyond the material world] status. They are rules offered to govern how we shall behave. They can be justified only by reference to their results [benefits]. How are these principles [of equality, freedom, etc.] to be justified? They are not derived from a divine or natural law nor do they have a special metaphysical [beyond the material world] status. They are rules offered to govern how we shall behave. They can be justified only by reference to their results. (Preamble)

 

Whose results? People interpret benefits and results differently. Increasingly, many groups will use violence to get what they want, and as a result of a pragmatic assessment, our politicians bow to threat, violence, and the will of the mob. Out of pragmatic thinking, these leaders vote themselves salary increases, benefits, and even insider trading, what is illegal for the rest of us. Pragmatism had led them to authorize a secret slush fund funded by the taxpayers to silence those they had sexually abused. It is the pragmatism of the elite which has brought us to distrust our institutions.

 

I am glad to see that many groups have gravitated towards the practice of virtue, but why? It too is justified pragmatically – no other reason! It makes them feel good about themselves. However, sin also makes us feel good, at least temporarily. It too brings valued results and benefits.

 

There is nothing the matter with pragmatic thinking. It is reasonable. However, without the oversight of objective moral principles, pragmatic thinking is quickly taken captive by immediate self-interests – fears, desires, and ambitions. Only the fear of being exposed is able to restrain such pragmatism, since we are quite adept at quieting our guilty conscience, whether with drugs or a skillful psychotherapist.

 

Our Founding Fathers understood this. They had argued that pragmatism had to be undergirded by unchanging higher principles. In his “Address to the Military,” October 11, 1798, our second President, John Adams , claimed that pragmatism without religion is unable to restrain self-gratification:

 

·       We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

 

Our first President, George Washington, understood that religion is essential for the maintenance of morality, something that “refined education” could not do:

 

·       Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens... Let it simply be asked, where is the security for property, for reputation, for live, in the sense of religious obligations desert and oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education ... reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

 

For example, we value the belief in the equality of humanity. However, it cannot be sustained without the Biblical faith, which teaches that God created us all in His image. Why not? We do not perceive equality. Instead, we observe that some are healthy, some are not; some make positive contributions, and some do not…Consequently, pragmatism cannot maintain this ideal, but by make-believe. Instead, pragmatism will inevitably favor those who favor us.

 

Almost in unison, our Founding Fathers believed that without the belief in an objective right and wrong, just and unjust, it would be impossible to govern a nation. This was also Washington’s belief:

 

·       It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible. Of all the dispositions and habits that lead to political prosperity, our religion and morality are the indispensable supporters. Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that our national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. https://www.foundingfatherquotes.com/category/morality

 

The history of humankind and all its inhumanity is evidence that pragmatism degenerates into “I am #1.” Search yourself, and tell me that this isn’t true!