PRAGMATAMNESIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Pragmatamnesia is a term coined to describe a phenomenon in which individuals conveniently forget their own previous positions or actions, especially in order to maintain consistency or credibility in the present moment. The term combines the words "pragmatic" and "amnesia" to form a concept that highlights the selective memory loss in relation to practical considerations.
The concept of pragmatamnesia typically arises in situations where individuals find it advantageous to disregard or overlook their past statements, beliefs, or behaviors, which may conflict with their current stance or goals. This term is often used in contexts such as politics, where politicians may conveniently forget promises or policies they previously advocated in order to appeal to different audiences or adapt to changing circumstances.
Pragmatamnesia can also appear in personal relationships or professional settings, where individuals may conveniently dismiss or deny their previous commitments or obligations to suit their immediate needs or self-interests. This phenomenon reflects a pragmatic approach that prioritizes adaptability and the desire for favorable outcomes over consistency or steadfastness.
Overall, pragmatamnesia describes a cognitive bias or tendency to conveniently forget one's own past positions or actions in order to maintain a pragmatic and advantageous approach to a given situation. It highlights the human tendency to prioritize practical considerations and self-interest over consistency or accountability.
-
Loss of the memory of the appearance of objects.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PRAGMATAMNESIA
- oragmatamnesia
- lragmatamnesia
- -ragmatamnesia
- 0ragmatamnesia
- peagmatamnesia
- pdagmatamnesia
- pfagmatamnesia
- ptagmatamnesia
- p5agmatamnesia
- p4agmatamnesia
- przgmatamnesia
- prsgmatamnesia
- prwgmatamnesia
- prqgmatamnesia
- prafmatamnesia
- pravmatamnesia
- prabmatamnesia
- prahmatamnesia
- praymatamnesia
- pratmatamnesia
Etymology of PRAGMATAMNESIA
The word "pragmatamnesia" does not have an established etymology as it appears to be a combination of two words: "pragmatism" and "amnesia".
1. Pragmatism: The word "pragmatism" originated in the late 19th century from the Greek word "pragma", meaning "deed" or "act". It was coined by American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce and later developed by philosophers such as William James and John Dewey. Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the practical consequences and usefulness of ideas, beliefs, and theories.
2. Amnesia: The word "amnesia" traces its roots to the ancient Greek word "amnesis", derived from "amnēsthai", meaning "forget". Amnesia refers to a condition or disorder characterized by partial or complete loss of memory.
