How did John Dewey reject the idea that reality is unchanging?

John Dewey rejected the traditional view that reality is static, perfect, and eternal—a perspective he identified as a central flaw in Western philosophy. He argued that this tradition created an artificial dualism between a "true" changeless reality and the imperfect, shifting world of human experience.1

Instead, Dewey proposed that all things are subject to change and that there is no changeless nature. He viewed the human mind as an integral part of nature, meaning human experiences are not purely subjective but are worldly events resulting from interacting processes.1

To navigate this reality, Dewey developed instrumentalism, a form of pragmatism that treats ideas as tools or plans of action. Rather than seeking a final, static "truth" or perfection, Dewey argued that inquiry should focus on the "ever-enduring process of perfecting, maturing, [and] refining". He believed that because the world is defined by processes of change, the goal of human life is to actively participate in these processes, using experimental inquiry to direct them toward beneficial outcomes.231