Synthesized answer
Pragmatism mediates between rationalism and empiricism by being open to a wider range of evidence and methods than either exclusively employs [2]. While rationalism tends to focus on logic and abstract principles, and empiricism relies on external senses and concrete facts, pragmatism is willing to consider "anything, to follow either logic or the senses, and to count the humblest and most personal experiences" [2]. This approach allows pragmatism to entertain any hypothesis and consider any evidence, thereby unstiffening theories and making them more genial [2].
Furthermore, pragmatism harmonizes the demands of both empiricist and religious thinkers [4]. It is described as a mediator and reconciler that unstiffens theories [2]. Pragmatism offers a way to bring old and new harmoniously together and converts abstract notions of correspondence into an active commerce between thoughts and the universe of experiences [4]. In essence, pragmatism doesn't exclusively adhere to either the abstract "empyrean" of rationalism or the external senses of empiricism, but rather embraces a broader and more inclusive approach to understanding [2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
rmly, and I select them solely for their convenience in helping me to my ulterior purpose of characterizing pragmatism. Historically we find the terms 'intellectualism' and 'sensationalism' used as synonyms of 'rationalism' and 'empiricism.' Well, nature seems to combine most frequently with intellectualism an idealistic and optimistic tendency. Empiricists on the other hand are not uncommonly materialistic, and their optimism is apt to be decidedly conditional and tremulous. Rationalism is always monistic. It starts from wholes and universals, and makes much of the unity of things.…
. But we cannot easily thus restrict our hypotheses. They carry supernumerary features, and these it is that clash so. My disbelief in the Absolute means then disbelief in those other supernumerary features, for I fully believe in the legitimacy of taking moral holidays. You see by this what I meant when I called pragmatism a mediator and reconciler and said, borrowing the word from Papini, that he unstiffens our theories. She has in fact no prejudices whatever, no obstructive dogmas, no rigid canons of what shall count as proof. She is completely genial. She will entertain any…
your lover of facts in all their crude variety, 'rationalist' meaning your devotee to abstract and eternal principles. No one can live an hour without both facts and principles, so it is a difference rather of emphasis; yet it breeds antipathies of the most pungent character between those who lay the emphasis differently; and we shall find it extraordinarily convenient to express a certain contrast in men's ways of taking their universe, by talking of the 'empiricist' and of the 'rationalist' temper. These terms make the contrast simple and massive. More simple and massive than are…
ory peculiarity. It only follows here the example of the sister-sciences, interpreting the unobserved by the observed. It brings old and new harmoniously together. It converts the absolutely empty notion of a static relation of 'correspondence' (what that may mean we must ask later) between our minds and reality, into that of a rich and active commerce (that anyone may follow in detail and understand) between particular thoughts of ours, and the great universe of other experiences in which they play their parts and have their uses. But enough of this at present? The justification of…
program for more work, and more particularly as an indication of the ways in which existing realities may be CHANGED. THEORIES THUS BECOME INSTRUMENTS, NOT ANSWERS TO ENIGMAS, IN WHICH WE CAN REST. We don't lie back upon them, we move forward, and, on occasion, make nature over again by their aid. Pragmatism unstiffens all our theories, limbers them up and sets each one at work. Being nothing essentially new, it harmonizes with many ancient philosophic tendencies. It agrees with nominalism for instance, in always appealing to particulars; with utilitarianism in emphasizing practical…