Topic: Pragmatism

The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) developed pragmatic, high-stress fighting styles by stripping away complex martial arts techniques in favor of effective "gross motor movements." This pragmatic approach is applied to the use of occult symbols like the number 33; the segment argues that elites may use these "codes" not necessarily out of religious devotion, but because they are perceived as effective tools for psychological or social engineering.

Modern occultism has shifted toward "Chaos Magic," a pragmatic approach that prioritizes results over tradition, similar to the American philosophy of pragmatism championed by William James. Author Gary Lachman describes this as "fast-food occultism" or "immediate-ism," where practitioners seek instant gratification and power. This historical shift from Neoplatonism to pragmatic magic is identified as a hallmark of the 21st-century esoteric landscape.