http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639119Sun, 24 May 2009 23:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:639119Thomas_Anderson0http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639119http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-639119.xmlAs I tried to suggest before,"radical" has a traditional political meaning, and a sort of generic meaning. IMHO both uses in your excerpts are used in the generic way, meaning something like, "extremely contrary to existing practices." But China has achieved its miracle growth in its economy through privatization, borrowing a page from the capitalist economists. From the point of view of a Communist idealist, this is an extremely radical thing to do - in the generic sense. Now I got the meaning of radical more clearly. Thanks a lot Avangi. I was so confused in these excerpts. I really appreciate your help. Please understand that I'm not advocating anything here, just trying to explain the terms as I...http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639105Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:639105Avangi1http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639105http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-639105.xmlAs I tried to suggest before,"radical" has a traditional political meaning, and a sort of generic meaning. IMHO both your excerpts use it in the generic way, meaning something like, "extremely contrary to existing practices." There's a certain irony at work here. According to my 1950's US public school definition, Communism is Liberalism radicalized to Socialism radicalized to Communism. The state owns everything and takes care of everybody. This is about as opposite from Capitalism as it's possible to get. But China has achieved its miracle growth in its economy through privatization, borrowing a page from the capitalist economists. From the point of view of a Communist idealist, this is an extremely...http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639011Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:639011Thomas_Anderson2http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#639011http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-639011.xmlFirst of all thanks to AlpheccaStars and Avangi for explaining the difference. I got the meaning that pragmatic is more about a practical and possible way while radical is some unheard idea. But I can't understand the meaning of radical in following contexts. Please help me with it. Excerpt I " If China’s growth rate were to fall to that level, it would be regarded as a disaster at home and abroad. The country is this month celebrating the 30th anniversary of the event seen as marking the launch of its policies of “reform and opening”, since when its economy has grown at an annual average of 9.8%. The event was a meeting of the Communist Party’s Central Committee at which Deng Xiaoping gained control. ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#638990Sun, 24 May 2009 23:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:638990Avangi3http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#638990http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-638990.xmlI don't think of them as capable of being compared. There's the real vs. the ideal. In this sense, pragmatism is real, practical, down-to-earth. Let's do something that's going to work. Radicalism, however, is not necessarily at the other end of that spectrum. That is, radicals do not necessarily have their heads in the clouds. Communism is idealistic, but Marx taught that the end justifies the means - a pragmatic approach to a radical goal. People often equate "radical" with "extreme." A radical cure would be one which most people would consider impossible, or dangerous, or rediculous, or unheard-of. (But it might work.) In the 50's they taught us that in the political spectrum we have moderates...http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#638972Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:638972AlpheccaStars4http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htm#638972http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-638972.xmlHi Thomas: Most of the radicals I know of are not pragmatists. Successful radicals are pragmatic, but much of the time pragmatism is against their nature.http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htmSun, 25 Jan 2009 00:56:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:638711Thomas_Anderson5http://www.englishforums.com/English/RadicalAndPragmatic/hlrbv/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-638711.xmlHi What is the difference in the usage of radical and pragmatic? Does pragmatic approach and radical approach, both have same meaning?