Pragmatism in the initial history of occupational therapy

Abstract

As a philosophical movement and epistemological base of occupational therapy, pragmatism is cited in few texts at the beginning of the profession. For this reason, this article seeks to describe the influences of pragmatist philosophy at the beginning of occupational therapy in the United States of America. To do this, it focuses on two aspects: 1. the relationships of the pragmatists and the first generation of occupational therapists; and 2. the theoretical development of occupational therapy and pragmatism, where three aspects stand out: i) holism in the profession, ii) the significance of people's subjectivity and iii) Meyer's pragmatism. It is concluded how pragmatism, despite not being a widely disseminated philosophy in the profession, presents a strong background regarding its importance in its beginnings. Finally, there are some challenges and possibilities related to the contributions that pragmatism could have for the discipline today.