1. The view that the value of something is determined by its usefulness or practical effect rather than by its intrinsic worth.
Usage: philosophy; common in educational and organizational contexts
2. A philosophical approach that judges the truth or success of ideas, theories, or actions by their practical consequences and usefulness.
Usage: philosophy; associated with John Dewey and pragmatist thought
3. The treatment of something as merely a means to an end rather than as having value in itself.
Usage: often used critically

Examples

• The school's focus on test scores reflects an instrumentalism that ignores the broader goals of education.
• Critics argue that instrumentalism reduces art to a tool for social messaging rather than valuing it for its own sake.
• Her instrumentalism in relationships meant she only maintained friendships that benefited her career.
• Dewey's instrumentalism emphasized that knowledge should be evaluated by how well it solves real-world problems.
• The company's instrumentalism toward employees—viewing them only as productive units—led to poor morale.
• Instrumentalism in science suggests that theories are useful tools rather than descriptions of reality.
• The policy reflects a narrow instrumentalism that measures success only by economic output.