How did William James respond to claims that pragmatism makes truth merely personal opinion?

William James addressed accusations that his pragmatic theory of truth reduced objective reality to mere subjective opinion by emphasizing that utility must be reconciled with the broader scope of human experience.1

Critics argued that if truth is defined as what is useful or expedient, it could vary arbitrarily between individuals. In response, James clarified that what feels immediately good or useful to a person is not necessarily "true" when measured against the "verdict of the rest of experience". He explicitly warned against beliefs that disregard the established order of reality, stating, "Woe to him whose beliefs play fast and loose with the order which realities follow in his experience".1

For James, the "working" of an idea—its truth—is defined by its role in facilitating successful action and opening up valuable directions of thought, rather than serving as a license for personal whim.21