A realist would carefully study the materials in a chair and subject them to a variety of tests to learn as much as possible about the materials. A realist would also weigh and measure the chair and even analyze the finish. Pragmatism is a philosophy that emerged during the later part of the 1800s. Pragmatists do not believe in knowledge for the sake of knowledge or science for the sake of science. Ideas and facts are applied to real world problems and have value primarily because of their usefulness.
Truth is what works in the real world.
Pragmatists want to prepare people to live in the world as it exists. Problem-solving should be used to attack problems, including social problems. Pragmatism is an American philosophy and was espoused by people like John Dewey, William James, Charles Peirce, and William Kilpatrick. A number of the early, influential leaders in agricultural education studied under these pragmatic philosophers. A pragmatist would study the usefulness of the chair.