How did Dewey apply pragmatism to moral decision-making?

John Dewey applied his theory of instrumentalism to moral decision-making by treating ethics as an experimental, evaluative procedure rather than the rigid application of pre-existing moral codes.1

For Dewey, moral inquiry begins when an individual faces problematic conditions, such as conflicting desires or alternative goods. Instead of seeking a static, final goal, he argued that one must investigate the specific trouble to be rectified and project potential consequences. In this framework:1

• Inquiry as Method: Moral decision-making functions like scientific inquiry, where "truth" is identified with the outcome of competent, self-corrective investigation.1
• Ends as Means: Moral ideals are not fixed ends but hypotheses used to guide deliberation and control experience.1
• Growth as the Goal: Dewey posited that "growth itself is the only moral end." The aim of living is not to reach a state of perfection, but to engage in the continuous process of maturing, refining, and improving.1

Ultimately, Dewey viewed this reflective, social process of human growth as the essential working ethic of democracy.1