THE LIMITS OF PRAGMATISM AND THE LIMITS OF REALISM

I argue here for a limited version of pragmatism-called conceptual pra gmatism-that recognizes that conceptual systems are to be evaluated ac cording to their usefulness for helping us get around in the world. On ce a conceptual system is in place, however, the truth of sentences is a matter of both empirical fit and coherence with the rest of our kno wledge. The error of critical realists is to fail to take into account the limited conceptual relativity that is to be expected on the basis of conceptual pragmatism. The conceptual realist thesis applies equal ly in science and theology.