What is a political orientation that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution?

pragmatism

socialism

liberalism

utilitarianism

It would be the political orientation of "pragmatism," that favors social progress by reform and by changing laws rather than by revolution, since this holds that most people want to obey laws.

The correct answer in this case is liberalism.

Socialism is the opposite as it entails (Among other things) the idea of fast changes, if need be with revolution. Neither does utilitarianism talk about social progress through reform.

Libertarians talk exactly about what the question is about; one of the main tennets of liberalism is that they prefer and would like to witness social change through reforms.