# Wilhelm Ostwald — Pragmatism character guide

> Wilhelm Ostwald in Pragmatism by William James.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Ostwald

**First appearance:** 0004-lecture-ii-what-pragmatism-means

## Who they are

Chemist and philosopher whose energetic theory is cited in pragmatic contexts.

## In the story

### [Lecture II: What Pragmatism Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pragmatism_se/chapters/lecture-ii-what-pragmatism-means)

Cited for his use of the pragmatic principle in chemistry lectures, illustrating how rival theories collapse when no practical difference exists.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pragmatism_se/chapters/endnotes)

Cited for his radical pragmatism in an engineering journal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pragmatism_se/characters/ostwald
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pragmatism_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pragmatism_se/characters