Materialist Pragmatism (MP) is a philosophical framework that emphasizes the material basis of existence and experience, prioritizing practical engagement with the tangible, observable world over abstract metaphysical speculation. MP asserts that reality consists solely of material entities (things), inferred space, and inferred time, and that processes, relationships, and categories are actions or properties of material objects. It focuses on improving real-world conditions through evidence-based, results-oriented approaches.

Core Principles:

1. Materialism: Reality is fundamentally material, consisting of physical objects and their properties. Non-material abstractions, such as concepts or categories, are mental constructs arising from the processes of material bodies.

2. Pragmatism: Philosophy should address practical, real-world concerns, focusing on questions and actions that lead to meaningful, actionable outcomes. Speculative questions, particularly those without tangible consequences, are considered distractions.

3. Ontology First: MP begins with ontology, defining what exists (material things, space, and time) and rejecting entities that lack a material basis.

4. Anti-Reification: MP critiques the reification of abstract concepts (e.g., “mind,” “green,” or “capitalism”) as independent entities. Instead, these are understood as processes or properties of material entities.

5. Contextualism: MP emphasizes the consistency and predictability of reality while acknowledging the contextual nature of judgments and actions. It rejects relativism but adapts to varying conditions within shared material reality.

6. Mind as Process: The mind is a process of the material brain, located in and part of the external world. Consciousness, thought, and perception are treated as ordinary material phenomena.

7. Bottom-Up Abstraction: Universals and categories are derived from particulars through material processes of abstraction, which simplify reality for practical efficiency without altering its inherent complexity.

8. Actionable Philosophy: MP aligns with the practical ethos of the parable of the poisoned arrow, advocating for addressing immediate, meaningful concerns while disregarding speculative distractions.

Purpose: Materialist Pragmatism is designed as a tool for navigating reality effectively, emphasizing utility, practicality, and a commitment to improving lived conditions.

Key Assertion: “It is material all the way down and all the way up.” Reality is fundamentally material, and all phenomena, from the simplest physical interactions to complex mental processes, are explained by material causes.

Critique of Other Philosophies: MP challenges speculative metaphysics and philosophies centered on abstract entities, arguing that such frameworks often divert attention from practical concerns and fail to produce actionable insights.

Applications: MP is relevant in fields such as ethics, epistemology, ontology, and social philosophy, focusing on improving decision-making, fostering shared understanding, and addressing real-world challenges in tangible, material terms.