Final answer:
The focus of pragmatism is not on basic, fundamental research but on the practical application and outcomes of ideas, making the statement false. Pragmatism seeks to determine truth by the success and practicality of ideas in real-world situations, contrasting with the goals of basic science, which seeks knowledge for its own sake.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the focus of pragmatism is on basic, fundamental research is false. Pragmatism as a philosophical movement prioritizes the practical application of ideas and theories over the pursuit of abstract or fundamental knowledge. It is concerned with how beliefs operate in practical situations and how well they satisfy human interests and solve problems. Pragmatism emerges as a philosophy that validates truth based on the outcomes and success of applying ideas to real-world situations. This contrasts with the goals of basic science, which seeks to expand knowledge without immediate practical applications, whereas pragmatism is more aligned with the principles of applied research, which aims to solve concrete problems. In the context of the Pragmatic Theory of Truth, truth is determined by the practical consequences of belief and action. A proposition is true when it yields satisfactory results that work in the long term. Pragmatism thus rejects the idea of unchanging absolute or objective truths, focusing instead on truths that prove to be functional and successful in varied human experiences. Philosopher William James notably asserted that truth could only be identified by tying ideas to their practical effects and outcomes. The philosophy puts forth several stances such as the nonexistence of objective knowledge and absolute knowledge. Therefore, pragmatism evaluates the truth of a belief by examining what practical differences it makes and its consequences in the long run, rather than following research methods to discover fundamental truths detached from everyday experience.