Final answer:
The statement that pragmatists see theories as important tools for finding our way in the world is true. Pragmatism emphasizes practical application of ideas and the verification of theories through experience. The philosophy suggests that truths are contingent on pragmatic utility and community consensus rather than objective reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pragmatists see theories and concepts as important tools for finding our way in the world that surrounds us. The statement that pragmatists view theories as tools for navigating the world is true. Pragmatism is a philosophy that holds ideas and theories must be tested through practical application and experience to determine their validity. Renowned philosopher William James, a key proponent of pragmatism, believed that American society needed to explore various ideas and perspectives experimentally to uncover the truth rather than rely on old, established models. John Dewey, another pragmatist, emphasized the role of education and the scientific method in this quest for truth. Pragmatic theories of truth, like those formulated by James, posit that a proposition is true if acting upon it yields satisfactory results. However, pragmatism also acknowledges that different types of claims, such as empirical, aesthetic, and ethical, present their own challenges in terms of determining accuracy and truth. In the pragmatic view, language about reality does not necessarily describe reality as it is, but rather it takes on meanings agreed upon by communities, serving various social functions.