ON UTILITARIANISM AND PRAGMATISM

Özet

Intellectual history includes peerless and unique thoughts as well as pieces of thoughts forming a tradition. In fact, thoughts, our first assumption, bear the traces of various thoughts that are products of an earlier time before the thoughts reach their brightness coming from early ages. These genuine views are not traditional anymore and have become unique as dissolving wealth of the ancient times in their own thoughts. Pragmatism also has characteristic and unique features in terms of being a product of the American world of thought. This philosophy, without a very old history, has created a tradition in a little while and could present original opinions. But, in this fast maturation period, the contribution of philosophic opinions which can be seen our common heritage is noteworthy. English’s sensualism and specifically utilitarianism can be indicated as the source of the most important influence in this direction. The aim of this study is to examine the extent of this effect, to point out historical transitions and to demonstrate that Pragmatism maintains its existence as a unique and different philosophy despite this effect.