The original pragmatists were its pioneers among the Academic Skeptics in classical antiquity. The ancient skeptics made the initial move towards a theory of knowledge geared to the standard of practical adequacy. And in doing this they launched pragmatism on its way. Theory must yield pride of place to practice as regards the standards of belief. So reasoned the proto-pragmatists among the Academic Skeptics. By pragmatic, Immanuel Kant understood that which conduces to the general well-being and benefit of people. For Kant the pragmatic realm is the sphere of human prudence and as such contrasts with that of morality in its focus on well-being rather than duty and rectitude. Utilitarianism based its moral and social philosophy upon an altogether pragmatic approach. And from early on, clear-headed students of philosophy recognized in pragmatism the epistemological counterpart of ethical utilitarianism. Epistemic pragmatists sometimes try to reduce truth to warranted assertability.