The Pitfalls of Pragmatism: How Choosing Expediency Over Principles Can Be Dangerous
Imagine a world where people make decisions based on practicality, rather than ethics, morals, or values. While this might seem like a convenient and efficient way of dealing with everyday challenges, the reality is that it can have detrimental effects on individuals, organizations and society as a whole. In this blog post, we aim to highlight the pitfalls of pragmatism, examining how choosing expediency over principles can be dangerous.
What is Pragmatism?
Pragmatism is the philosophy that emphasizes practicality and usefulness over fixed principles or ideologies. In other words, pragmatic individuals are focused on what works and how they can achieve their desired results in the shortest amount of time, often without considering the wider implications of their actions. This philosophy can be seen in all aspects of life, whether it is in personal decision-making, business management, or political policy.
The Dangers of Pragmatism
While pragmatism has its benefits, such as promoting efficiency and problem solving, it can also lead to a number of negative consequences.
Firstly, when people prioritize pragmatism over principles, they risk compromising their morals and ethics. This can manifest in situations where individuals cut corners or take unethical shortcuts in order to achieve their goals. In the long term, this can damage their reputation and credibility, leading to a loss of trust and respect from both colleagues and clients.
Secondly, organizations that prioritize pragmatism over principles risk losing sight of their values and culture. When employees are incentivized to make decisions based solely on what is expedient rather than what is right, this can have a trickle-down effect on company culture. As a result, employees may become disillusioned, and the company may experience a decline in its social responsibility, customer satisfaction, and overall performance.
Thirdly, in politics, choosing pragmatism over principles can lead to the erosion of democratic values. When politicians prioritize short-term wins over long-term solutions, this can undermine public trust and accountability. Elected officials who compromise their principles to win votes or curry favor with special interests can corrode the democratic process.
Examples of the Pitfalls of Pragmatism
There are numerous examples of the dangers of pragmatism.
Take Uber, for example. The ride-sharing giant made headlines for using a tool called “Greyball” to evade law enforcement in certain cities. Although Uber claimed that this tool was used to protect drivers, in reality, it was also used to deceive regulators. This unethical behavior damaged the company’s reputation and resulted in multiple scandals.
Another example is Wells Fargo, which engaged in systematic fraud and abuse of customer trust by creating millions of fraudulent bank accounts in customers’ names, without their consent. The bank prioritized the use of metrics for success, leading to widespread misconduct that ultimately resulted in substantial financial and reputational damage.
Conclusion
While pragmatism has its uses and can be effective in achieving certain goals, it is important to recognize its limitations. Individuals, organizations, and politicians must be mindful of the potential negative consequences that may arise from prioritizing expediency over principles. To maintain a healthy balance, decision-makers should strive to make choices that are both practical and ethical, taking into account the long-term costs and benefits to themselves, their organizations, and society as a whole.
