Antipragmatic

/ˌæntiˌprægˈmætɪk/ adjective

Definition

Opposed to pragmatism; not concerned with practical results or real-world applicability.

Etymology

From anti- (against) + pragmatic (practical, concerned with consequences). Pragmatic comes from Greek pragma, meaning 'deed or action.' This term emerged in 20th-century philosophy to describe non-pragmatic approaches.

Kelly Says

Pure mathematicians are often antipragmatic—they care about theoretical beauty rather than whether an equation solves a real-world problem, which is actually what makes some of their discoveries so surprising!

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