I wonder if pragmatists are less likely to reject information they don't want to hear since their self interest is their terminal goal, so for example entertaining the possibility that Malthus can be right in some instances does not imply that they must unilaterally sacrifice themselves.

Perhaps the reason so many transhumanists are peak oil deniers and global warming deniers is that both of these are Malthusian scenarios that would put the immediate needs of those less fortunate in direct and obvious opposition to the costly, delayed-payoff projects we advocate.