noun
A philosophical doctrine that theories are instruments for prediction and problem-solving, not literal descriptions of reality. Used in academic contexts.
道具主義は、科学理論を実用的な道具と見なす立場だ。
Instrumentalism is a position that regards scientific theories as practical tools.
彼の研究は、教育における道具主義の影響を分析している。
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'.