A philosophical doctrine that theories are instruments for prediction and problem-solving, not literal descriptions of reality. Used in academic contexts.
Instrumentalism is a position that regards scientific theories as practical tools.
His research analyzes the influence of instrumentalism in education.
実用主義 (pragmatism) emphasizes practical consequences and usefulness in general, while 道具主義 specifically refers to the philosophical view that theories are mere instruments.
Compound of 道具 (tool, instrument) and 主義 (doctrine, -ism). A direct translation of the English philosophical term 'instrumentalism'.