[in-struh-men-tl-iz-uh m] /ˌɪn strəˈmɛn tlˌɪz əm/

noun, Philosophy.
the variety of pragmatism developed by John Dewey, maintaining that the truth of an idea is determined by its success in the active solution of a problem and that the value of ideas is determined by their function in human experience.
a system of pragmatic philosophy holding that ideas are instruments, that they should guide our actions and can change the world, and that their value consists not in their truth but in their success
an antirealist philosophy of science that holds that theories are not true or false but are merely tools for deriving predictions from observational data


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  • Instrumentalist

    [in-struh-men-tl-ist] /ˌɪn strəˈmɛn tl ɪst/ noun 1. a person who plays a musical . 2. an advocate of instrumentalism. adjective 3. of, relating to, or advocating instrumentalism. /ˌɪnstrəˈmɛntəlɪst/ noun 1. a person who plays a musical instrument 2. (philosophy) a person who believes in the doctrines of instrumentalism adjective 3. of or relating to instrumentalism […]

  • Instrumentality

    [in-struh-men-tal-i-tee] /ˌɪn strə mɛnˈtæl ɪ ti/ noun, plural instrumentalities for 1, 3. 1. the quality or state of being . 2. the fact or function of serving some purpose. 3. a means or agency.

  • Instrumental learning

    noun 1. (psychol) a method of training in which the reinforcement is made contingent on the occurrence of the response Compare classical conditioning

  • Instrumental music

